Jump to content

Northwest Florida Daily News: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Yobot (talk | contribs)
Bots
4,733,870 edits
m WP:CHECKWIKI error fixes using AWB (9494)
No edit summary
 
(18 intermediate revisions by 14 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Daily newspaper in Fort Walton Beach}}
[[Image:Nwfdn.png|right]]
{{Infobox newspaper
⚫
The '''''Northwest Florida Daily News''''' is a daily [[newspaper]] published in [[Fort Walton Beach, Florida]]. It was founded in 1946 and is owned by [[Halifax Media]].
| name = NorthWest Florida Daily News
| image = File:Nwfdn.png
| caption =
| type = [[Daily newspaper]]
| format =
| foundation = 1946
| ceased publication =
| owners = [[Gannett]]
| publisher =
| editor =
| language =
| political =
| circulation = 10,664
| circulation_ref = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Member Directory |url=https://flpress.com/members/member-directory/ |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=Florida Press Association |language=en-US}}</ref>
| headquarters = [[Fort Walton Beach, Florida]] United States
| oclc =
| ISSN =
| website = {{URL|nwfdailynews.com}}
}}

⚫
The '''''Northwest Florida Daily News''''' is a daily [[newspaper]] published in [[Fort Walton Beach, Florida]]. It was founded in 1946 and is owned by [[Gannett]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Terms of Service |url=https://cm.nwfdailynews.com/terms/ |website=The Northwest Florida Daily News |access-date=22 April 2021 |quote=Last Updated: January 3rd, 2013}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
A group of local businessmen met on January 9, 1946, to organize a weekly newspaper for [[Okaloosa County]]'s southern region. The [[Okaloosa News-Journal]], published at the county seat of [[Crestview, Florida|Crestview]] at the northern end of the county for many decades, carried early accounts of the developing region. As the southern communities of Fort Walton, [[Destin, Florida|Destin]], [[Shalimar, Florida|Shalimar]], [[Cinco Bayou, Florida|Cinco Bayou]], [[Mary Esther, Florida|Mary Esther]], [[Ocean City, Florida|Ocean City]], [[Wright, Florida|Wright]], [[Valparaiso, Florida|Valparaiso]] and [[Niceville, Florida|Niceville]] expanded, so did the need for local coverage. The civic leaders gathered at a downtown [[Fort Walton]] bar which had the only available meeting room. Present were Clyde Meigs, Fred McCaully, Paul Roberts, Ray Folmar, R.L. Odom, Howard Gill, L. Ferrin, George Klosterman, Lee Courter, Frank Bizelle, Braden Ball, W.R. Cummings, DeWitt Lamb (the first editor), Andy Anderson, Leon Bishop, Toopey Work, Bill Williams and Bill Folb.<ref>Playground Daily News, February 7, 1978, p. 1B.</ref>
A group of local businessmen met on January 9, 1946, to organize a weekly newspaper for [[Okaloosa County]]'s southern region. The ''[[Okaloosa News-Journal]]'', published at the county seat of [[Crestview, Florida|Crestview]] at the northern end of the county for many decades, carried early accounts of the developing region. As the southern communities of Fort Walton, [[Destin, Florida|Destin]], [[Shalimar, Florida|Shalimar]], [[Cinco Bayou, Florida|Cinco Bayou]], [[Mary Esther, Florida|Mary Esther]], [[Ocean City, Florida|Ocean City]], [[Wright, Florida|Wright]], [[Valparaiso, Florida|Valparaiso]] and [[Niceville, Florida|Niceville]] expanded, so did the need for local coverage. The civic leaders gathered at a downtown [[Fort Walton]] bar which had the only available meeting room. Present were Clyde Meigs, Fred McCaully, Paul Roberts, Ray Folmar, R.L. Odom, Howard Gill, L. Ferrin, George Klosterman, Lee Courter, Frank Bizelle, Braden Ball, W.R. Cummings, DeWitt Lamb (the first editor), Andy Anderson, Leon Bishop, Toopey Work, Bill Williams and Bill Folb.<ref>''Playground Daily News'', February 7, 1978, p. 1B.</ref>


Perry Publications, a group of about 30 papers, began publication of the Playground News February 7, 1946. The first issue contained 24 pages, about 65 percent of which was paid display advertising. From the mid-1960s, the newspaper's offices and printing plant were located on Eglin Parkway in downtown Fort Walton Beach. The paper was sold to Freedom Newspapers, Inc., now [[Freedom Communications]], on July 1, 1969.<ref>Playground Daily News, February 7, 1978, p. 1B.</ref> On August 22, 1975, the newspaper printed the edition for the first time at a new plant and offices located at 200 N.W. Racetrack Road in Fort Walton Beach,<ref>Playground Daily News, August 22, 1975, Volume 30, Number 169, page 1A.</ref> which would remain the base of operations through the fall of 2011.
Perry Publications, a group of about 30 papers, began publication of the ''Playground News'' February 7, 1946. The first issue contained 24 pages, about 65 percent of which was paid display advertising. From the mid-1960s, the newspaper's offices and printing plant were on Eglin Parkway in downtown Fort Walton Beach. The paper was sold to Freedom Newspapers, Inc., now [[Freedom Communications]], on July 1, 1969.<ref>''Playground Daily News'', February 7, 1978, p. 1B.</ref> On August 22, 1975, the newspaper printed the edition for the first time at a new plant and offices at 200 N.W. Racetrack Road in Fort Walton Beach,<ref>''Playground Daily News'', August 22, 1975, Volume 30, Number 169, page 1A.</ref> which would remain the base of operations through the fall of 2011.


In 2012, Freedom sold its Florida and North Carolina papers to [[Halifax Media Group]]. In 2015, Halifax was acquired by [[New Media Investment Group]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ir.newmediainv.com/Cache/1001192429.PDF?Y=&O=PDF&D=&FID=1001192429&T=&IID=4426551 |title=New Media Announces Agreement to Acquire Halifax Media Group for $280.0 Million |access-date=2015-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307125519/http://ir.newmediainv.com/Cache/1001192429.PDF?Y=&O=PDF&D=&FID=1001192429&T=&IID=4426551 |archive-date=2016-03-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 2012, Freedom sold its Florida and North Carolina papers to [[Halifax Media Group]].


Over its history, the paper has gone by three names:
Over its history, the paper has gone by three names:


*Playground News February 7, 1946 - September 30, 1975
*''Playground News'' February 7, 1946 - September 2, 1962
*Playground Daily News October 1, 1975 - February 29, 1988
*''Playground Daily News'' September 3, 1962 - February 29, 1988
*Northwest Florida Daily News March 1, 1988–present<ref>Microfilm records.</ref>
*''Northwest Florida Daily News'' March 1, 1988–present<ref>Microfilm records.</ref>

⚫
Due to the close ties between the Fort Walton Beach community and [[Eglin Air Force Base]], the ''Playground/Northwest Florida News'' supplanted the ''[[Okaloosa News-Journal]]'', published in [[Crestview, Florida]], as the county paper of record.


⚫
[[Hunter S. Thompson]] wrote a sports column for the ''Northwest Florida Daily News'' (then called the ''Playground News'') while stationed at Eglin Air Force Base. Thompson landed the job in early February 1957. Hired by Publisher Wayne Bell, Thompson wrote under the pseudonyms Thorne Stockton and Cubley Cohn.<ref>''Northwest Florida Daily News'', June 16, 1997, p. 1B.</ref>
⚫
Due to the close ties between the Fort Walton Beach community and [[Eglin Air Force Base]], the Playground/Northwest Florida News supplanted the [[Okaloosa News-Journal]], published in [[Crestview, Florida]], as the county paper of record.


==Subsidiaries==
⚫
[[Hunter S. Thompson]] wrote a sports column for the Northwest Florida Daily News (then called the Playground News) while stationed at nearby [[Eglin Air Force Base]]. Thompson landed the job in early February 1957. Hired by Publisher Wayne Bell, Thompson wrote under the pseudonyms Thorne Stockton and Cubley Cohn.<ref>Northwest Florida Daily News, June 16, 1997, p. 1B.</ref>
Subsidiaries include the ''Eglin Dispatch'' and the ''Hurlburt Warrior''.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}


==References==
==References==
Line 25: Line 49:
{{Portal|Florida|Journalism}}
{{Portal|Florida|Journalism}}
* [http://www.nwfdailynews.com/ ''Northwest Florida Daily News'' official site]
* [http://www.nwfdailynews.com/ ''Northwest Florida Daily News'' official site]
* [http://m.nwfdailynews.com/ Official mobile site]
* [http://m.nwfdailynews.com/ ''Northwest Florida Daily News'' official mobile site]
* [http://www.freedom.com/newspapers/nfdaily.html Freedom Communications subsidiary profile of the ''Northwest Florida Daily News'']
* [http://www.freedom.com/newspapers/nfdaily.html ''Northwest Florida Daily News''] Freedom Communications subsidiary profile
* {{cite web |title=Data Central |url=https://data.nwfdailynews.com/ |website=Northwest Florida Daily News |language=en |quote=Weather Crime Drugs Schools Voting...}}


{{Halifax Media}}
{{Gannett}}


[[Category:Newspapers published in Florida]]
[[Category:Newspapers published in Florida]]
[[Category:Publications established in 1946]]
[[Category:Newspapers established in 1946]]
[[Category:Freedom Communications]]
[[Category:Gannett publications]]
[[Category:Okaloosa County, Florida]]
[[Category:Okaloosa County, Florida]]
[[Category:1946 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:1946 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Fort Walton Beach, Florida]]
[[Category:Fort Walton Beach, Florida]]
[[Category:Daily newspapers published in the United States]]

Latest revision as of 20:48, 3 December 2023

NorthWest Florida Daily News
TypeDaily newspaper
Owner(s)Gannett
Founded1946
HeadquartersFort Walton Beach, Florida United States
Circulation10,664[1]
Websitenwfdailynews.com

The Northwest Florida Daily News is a daily newspaper published in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. It was founded in 1946 and is owned by Gannett.[2]

History

[edit]

A group of local businessmen met on January 9, 1946, to organize a weekly newspaper for Okaloosa County's southern region. The Okaloosa News-Journal, published at the county seat of Crestview at the northern end of the county for many decades, carried early accounts of the developing region. As the southern communities of Fort Walton, Destin, Shalimar, Cinco Bayou, Mary Esther, Ocean City, Wright, Valparaiso and Niceville expanded, so did the need for local coverage. The civic leaders gathered at a downtown Fort Walton bar which had the only available meeting room. Present were Clyde Meigs, Fred McCaully, Paul Roberts, Ray Folmar, R.L. Odom, Howard Gill, L. Ferrin, George Klosterman, Lee Courter, Frank Bizelle, Braden Ball, W.R. Cummings, DeWitt Lamb (the first editor), Andy Anderson, Leon Bishop, Toopey Work, Bill Williams and Bill Folb.[3]

Perry Publications, a group of about 30 papers, began publication of the Playground News February 7, 1946. The first issue contained 24 pages, about 65 percent of which was paid display advertising. From the mid-1960s, the newspaper's offices and printing plant were on Eglin Parkway in downtown Fort Walton Beach. The paper was sold to Freedom Newspapers, Inc., now Freedom Communications, on July 1, 1969.[4] On August 22, 1975, the newspaper printed the edition for the first time at a new plant and offices at 200 N.W. Racetrack Road in Fort Walton Beach,[5] which would remain the base of operations through the fall of 2011.

In 2012, Freedom sold its Florida and North Carolina papers to Halifax Media Group. In 2015, Halifax was acquired by New Media Investment Group.[6]

Over its history, the paper has gone by three names:

  • Playground News February 7, 1946 - September 2, 1962
  • Playground Daily News September 3, 1962 - February 29, 1988
  • Northwest Florida Daily News March 1, 1988–present[7]

Due to the close ties between the Fort Walton Beach community and Eglin Air Force Base, the Playground/Northwest Florida News supplanted the Okaloosa News-Journal, published in Crestview, Florida, as the county paper of record.

Hunter S. Thompson wrote a sports column for the Northwest Florida Daily News (then called the Playground News) while stationed at Eglin Air Force Base. Thompson landed the job in early February 1957. Hired by Publisher Wayne Bell, Thompson wrote under the pseudonyms Thorne Stockton and Cubley Cohn.[8]

Subsidiaries

[edit]

Subsidiaries include the Eglin Dispatch and the Hurlburt Warrior.[citation needed]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Member Directory". Florida Press Association. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  2. ^ "Terms of Service". The Northwest Florida Daily News. Retrieved 22 April 2021. Last Updated: January 3rd, 2013
  3. ^ Playground Daily News, February 7, 1978, p. 1B.
  4. ^ Playground Daily News, February 7, 1978, p. 1B.
  5. ^ Playground Daily News, August 22, 1975, Volume 30, Number 169, page 1A.
  6. ^ "New Media Announces Agreement to Acquire Halifax Media Group for $280.0 Million" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
  7. ^ Microfilm records.
  8. ^ Northwest Florida Daily News, June 16, 1997, p. 1B.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Northwest_Florida_Daily_News&oldid=1188180668"