The Winnsboro News
TypeWeekly newspaper
FormatBroadsheet
Owner(s)Chuck and Nancy Roy[1]
EditorShiela Haynes[1]
FoundedSeptember 24, 1908
(115 years ago) (1908-09-24)[2]
LanguageEnglish
Headquarters105 East Locust
CityWinnsboro, Texas 75494-2519
Country United States
Circulation1,383 (as of 2023)[3]
ISSN8755-948X
OCLC number11429689
Websitethewinnsboronews.com

The Winnsboro News is a weekly newspaper in Winnsboro, Texas, serving Wood and Franklin Counties.[2]

History

Stories differ on how the newspaper was formed. Histories of the city of Winnsboro indicate that the newspaper was formed in 1908 by a merger of the "wet" and "dry" newspapers in the town—one newspaper serving those holding views against the sale of liquors and one serving those holding views favoring the sale of liquors—the Winnsboro News and the Winnsboro Messenger.[4]: 37  The Texas Press Association, however, fixes September 24, 1908 as the specific date of the founding of the News as a weekly newspaper.[2] The newspaper was later sold to Judge R. M. Smith.[4]: 37  A former publisher, Grayford M. Jones, built the current 9,800-square-foot (910 m2) newspaper plant for the News on Locust Street in Winnsboro. The plant has a five-unit Goss Community press. The newspaper is currently owned by Chuck and Nancy Roy, who bought the newspaper on January 1, 2022.[1]

Controversy

LGBTQ harassment

In August 2003, the newspaper gained notoriety for publishing an editorial by publisher Tom Pendergast outing an LGBTQ couple living in the city.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ a b c Rogers, Jim (6 January 2022). "New Owners Acquire The Winnsboro News". The Winnsboro News. ISSN 8755-948X. OCLC 11429689. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022. A new sign will be commissioned to extend the line of succession to include the new owners, Chuck and Nancy Roy.
  2. ^ a b c "Display Newspaper Details". Texas Press Association. Archived from the original on 26 November 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  3. ^ "2023 Texas Newspaper Directory". Texas Press Association. Archived from the original on 2023-05-03. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  4. ^ a b Suiter, Will (1 October 2003) [1952]. Winnsboro, Texas: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Winnsboro, Texas: Grayford Jones Press. pp. 37–41. ASIN B07KCQDVRB. OCLC 272307183. OL 32856545M – via University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History.
  5. ^ Grimes, Andrea (6 October 2005). "Over the Edge". Dallas Observer. Voice Media Group. ISSN 0732-0299. OCLC 7095491. Archived from the original on 27 December 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2021. Tom Pendergast, the editor and publisher of the local newspaper with a penchant for picking public fights. On August 21, 2003, Pendergast published a scathing editorial in the Winnsboro News titled "About Fully Informing the Citizens." The 500-word article condemned the couple's homosexual lifestyle as "despicable" and "disgusting." It would change everything for Bear and Carmichael, even Winnsboro itself; the days of peaceful coexistence were past.
  6. ^ Hood, James R. (2 November 2006). "Newspaper "Outing" Blamed for Innkeeper's Death - Gay innkeeper's friends say local paper was merciless". ConsumerAffairs. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 23 July 2021. Pendergast said he feels no responsibility for Bear's death...

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