Learning from Historical Documents for Chapter 20 |
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Robert E. Miller, Duane Bowler, and Albert Gaskill Reminiscences about Working on Anaconda Company-owned Newspapers, in Don Anderson writing, 1959. Small Collection 1211. Montana Historical Society Research Center. Archives. Excerpted in Not In Precious Metals Alone: A Manuscript History of Montana (Helena, 1976): 217-19. Context for the Journalists' Reminiscences: "A new age in Montana journalism began June 1, 1959," was the view of Montana Standard editor Bert Gaskill. That year, Lee Newspapers, a Midwestern chain headquartered in Iowa, purchased seven daily and two weekly Montana newspapers from the Fairmont Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Anaconda Company. The Anaconda Company's interest in controlling the press had its roots in the war of the copper kings. Ultimately, its papers accounted for over half of Montana's circulation. As Anaconda's economic interest in Montana diminished and other media rose to challenge print, owning the newspapers became less politically useful, and Anaconda decided to sell. Years later, Don Anderson, who helped broker the sale, asked several longtime Montana newspaper men to describe what working as a journalist was like in the era of Anaconda Company control.
View Robert E. Miller's complete reminiscence. |
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