Los Angeles Examiner

Los Angeles Examiner. It was a major daily newspaper founded in 1903 by the powerful media magnate William Randolph Hearst as a flagship of his Hearst Communications empire on the West Coast of the United States. Known for its sensationalist yellow journalism style, vibrant photography, and staunchly pro-labor stance, it became a dominant and influential voice in Southern California for much of the 20th century. The paper engaged in fierce circulation wars with rivals like the Los Angeles Times and was a key platform for Hearst's political ambitions and editorial crusades.

History

The newspaper was established in December 1903 when William Randolph Hearst purchased the struggling Los Angeles Herald and merged it with his newly created Evening Journal, aiming to expand his Hearst Communications chain into the growing Los Angeles market. Its original headquarters were in the Herald-Examiner Building in downtown Los Angeles, a landmark designed by Julia Morgan, Hearst's favored architect. The paper quickly adopted Hearst's signature style of bold headlines, extensive use of illustrations, and aggressive reporting, positioning itself as a populist alternative to the more conservative Los Angeles Times. Throughout its history, it was instrumental in promoting major civic projects, including the development of the Port of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Aqueduct, while also fiercely advocating for unionization and workers' rights.

Notable staff

The paper's newsroom attracted and cultivated a remarkable array of journalistic talent. Among its most famous columnists was Louella Parsons, whose powerful Hollywood gossip syndicate made her a feared and influential figure in the film industry. The photography staff included James C. Coney, a pioneering photojournalist. Notable editors and writers over the years included Agness Underwood, who rose from a court reporter to become one of the first female city editors of a major U.S. daily, and Gene Sherman, a respected political writer. Famed war correspondent Jimmy Hare also contributed during his career, and cartoonist Robert L. Ripley of Ripley's Believe It or Not! had early work featured in its pages.

Coverage and influence

The paper's coverage was defined by its sensational crime reporting, lavish society page features, and unwavering support for the Democratic Party and organized labor. It played a significant role in shaping public opinion on local issues, from supporting the California Progressive Party to crusading against the Pacific Electric Railway monopoly. Its sports section provided extensive coverage of local teams like the Los Angeles Angels and events at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The paper's influence extended into California state politics, often championing candidates and causes aligned with Hearst's vision, and its style set the tone for popular journalism across the Southwestern United States.

Later years and closure

Following World War II, the newspaper, like many afternoon dailies, began to suffer from declining circulation due to competition from television, suburbanization, and changing readership habits. In 1962, in a major consolidation of the city's newspaper market, Hearst Communications merged it with the rival Herald-Express, owned by the Los Angeles Evening Herald Express, to form the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner. The newly merged paper continued as an afternoon publication but struggled financially for decades. The final edition of the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner was published in November 1989, marking the end of the Hearst newspaper lineage in Los Angeles that began with the *Examiner*.

Archives and legacy

The complete photographic archive of the newspaper, comprising over 1.4 million negatives and prints, is housed at the University of Southern California's USC Libraries within the Regional History Collection. This collection serves as an invaluable visual record of Los Angeles and Southern California from the early 1900s through the 1960s. The paper's legacy lives on through its impact on California journalism, its role in the History of Los Angeles, and its iconic headquarters, the Herald-Examiner Building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its brand of crusading, populist reporting influenced a generation of journalists and left a permanent mark on the media landscape of the American West.

Category:Defunct newspapers published in California Category:Hearst Communications Category:Publications established in 1903 Category:Publications disestablished in 1962