Charles M. Palmer
Encyclopedia
Charles M. Palmer was a Midwest newspaper broker
who assembled much of the William Randolph Hearst
media empire and an organizer of the Associated Press
.
Palmer was born in a log cabin
in La Crosse, Wisconsin
. He initially worked at the LaCrosse Chronicle and the LaCrosse Republican and Leader.
Palmer moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota
where he received $15/week and 25 percent commission on advertising at the Minneapolis Miller. Within two years he saved enough for a $5,000 down payment on buying the publication. He would claim that he was part owner of all the newspapers in Minneapolis and bragged that he had invested $5,000 in the Minneapolis Journal and sold it for $120,000 in 1901.
In 1889 he accepted a $10,000 job as business manager for the San Francisco Examiner. In a meeting with Hearst, Hearst complained that news transmitted between the West and East Coast of the United States cost 2½ cents per word via telegraph. Palmer said it would be cheaper if other newspapers shared the cost and Hearst authorized him to buy newspapers on his behalf with the first paper being the New York Journal. He would be business manager of the company from 1895 to 1899 and would be president of the Boston Record
for Hearst for several years.
In 1896 he bid $25,000 for the New York Times because he said he felt the paper was in bad shape. Adolph S. Ochs met the asking price of $50,000.
In 1900 after the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that the Associated Press
was a defacto public utility
and thus had to accept any newspaper that applied without restriction. He was among the publishers who dissolved the AP and established it as a non-profit membership organization.
In 1903 he bought what would become the St. Joseph News-Press
and later the St. Joseph Gazette
. The News-Press & Gazette Company
would be his main newspaper to the end of his life.
He died in Saranac Lake, New York
and had no children.
Broker
A broker is a party that arranges transactions between a buyer and a seller, and gets a commission when the deal is executed. A broker who also acts as a seller or as a buyer becomes a principal party to the deal...
who assembled much of the William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst was an American business magnate and leading newspaper publisher. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887, after taking control of The San Francisco Examiner from his father...
media empire and an organizer of the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
.
Palmer was born in a log cabin
Log cabin
A log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
in La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River.The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 52,485...
. He initially worked at the LaCrosse Chronicle and the LaCrosse Republican and Leader.
Palmer moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
where he received $15/week and 25 percent commission on advertising at the Minneapolis Miller. Within two years he saved enough for a $5,000 down payment on buying the publication. He would claim that he was part owner of all the newspapers in Minneapolis and bragged that he had invested $5,000 in the Minneapolis Journal and sold it for $120,000 in 1901.
In 1889 he accepted a $10,000 job as business manager for the San Francisco Examiner. In a meeting with Hearst, Hearst complained that news transmitted between the West and East Coast of the United States cost 2½ cents per word via telegraph. Palmer said it would be cheaper if other newspapers shared the cost and Hearst authorized him to buy newspapers on his behalf with the first paper being the New York Journal. He would be business manager of the company from 1895 to 1899 and would be president of the Boston Record
Boston Herald
The Boston Herald is a daily newspaper that serves Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and its surrounding area. It was started in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States...
for Hearst for several years.
In 1896 he bid $25,000 for the New York Times because he said he felt the paper was in bad shape. Adolph S. Ochs met the asking price of $50,000.
In 1900 after the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
was a defacto public utility
Public utility
A public utility is an organization that maintains the infrastructure for a public service . Public utilities are subject to forms of public control and regulation ranging from local community-based groups to state-wide government monopolies...
and thus had to accept any newspaper that applied without restriction. He was among the publishers who dissolved the AP and established it as a non-profit membership organization.
In 1903 he bought what would become the St. Joseph News-Press
St. Joseph News-Press
The St. Joseph News-Press is a daily morning newspaper in St. Joseph, Missouri. It is the flagship of the News-Press & Gazette Company which owns newspapers, television and radio stations and cable television systems throughout the United States.-History:...
and later the St. Joseph Gazette
St. Joseph Gazette
The St. Joseph Gazette was a newspaper in St. Joseph, Missouri from 1845 until June 30, 1988, when its morning position was taken over by its sister paper, the St...
. The News-Press & Gazette Company
News-Press & Gazette Company
The News Press & Gazette Company is a media company based in St. Joseph, Missouri, wholly owned and operated by the Bradley family. It is presided by Brian Bradley and David R. Bradley, with Hank Bradley , Eric Bradley and Kit Bradley serving on its Board of Directors. All are descendants of...
would be his main newspaper to the end of his life.
He died in Saranac Lake, New York
Saranac Lake, New York
Saranac Lake is a village located in the state of New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,406. The village is named after Upper, Middle, and Lower Saranac Lakes, which are nearby....
and had no children.