The Columbus Dispatch

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The Columbus Dispatch
Type	Daily newspaper
Format	Broadsheet

Owner	Dispatch Printing Company (Wolfe family)
Publisher	John F. Wolfe
Editor	Benjamin Marrison
Founded	1871
Headquarters	34 South 3rd Street Columbus, Ohio 43215 United States
Circulation	218,940 Daily 343,616 Sunday^[1]
ISSN	1074-097X

Website: dispatch.com

The Columbus Dispatch is a daily newspaper, based in Columbus, Ohio, that serves the central portion of the state. Its first issue was published on July 1, 1871. It has been the only mainstream daily newspaper in the city since The Columbus Citizen-Journal stopped printing in 1985.

The C-J ("See-Jay"), as it was known, was beholden to the Dispatch for its printing facilities, and controversy surrounded the C-J's demise.

The Dispatch and the various WBNS stations are privately owned by the Wolfe family. Although this concentration of media ownership might seem to be afoul of the Federal Communications Commission's cross-ownership rules, the family was granted an exemption because their ownership pre-dated the regulations. The Dispatch Broadcast Group also includes WTHR Channel 13 in Indianapolis, Indiana, an affiliate of NBC, and the "Ohio News Network" cable news channel.

John F. Wolfe is the newspaper's publisher.^[2] Michael F. Curtin is the associate publisher emeritus, Michael J. Fiorile is the chief operating officer, and Benjamin Marrison is the editor.^[3]

1 History
2 Iranian cartoon controversy
3 External links
4 References

[edit] History

In the past, the paper has been seen as of having a conservative slant.^[4]^[5]^[6] The paper's last endorsement of a Democrat as a Presidential candidate, was for the reelection of Woodrow Wilson in 1916.^[7] More recently, coverage has been more inclusive of the diverse Columbus community ^[4] (e.g., the acceptance of same-sex commitment announcements); even the editorial positions (some endorsing more left-leaning politicians and policies) have taken on a more centrist cast. For example, the Dispatch endorsed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland in the 2006 Ohio elections.^[8]

Additionally, the paper was involved in a widely published hoax involving Tina Resch in 1984.^[9] The paper claimed that Resch had was able to perform telekinesis on objects in her home. The famous "flying telephone" picture taken by Fred Shannon was circulated by the AP throughout the world.

The sections of the Dispatch include the Front Page, Metro, Sports and Life. The Flip Side is on the back page of the Life section, and the Business section is on the back page and inside back page of the Sports section. Food and Now! are sections included in the Wednesday paper, while Science is published on Tuesdays.

Historic Columbus Dispatch building at 34 South Third Street, across from the Ohio state capitol building. Originally the Dispatch and Columbus Citizen Journal were published at this location. The CJ is gone and the Dispatch is published at a modern color plant on the far west side of Columbus.

The Weekender section is included in the Thursday paper. Faith & Values section is included in the Friday paper. Sunday sections include Travel, The Arts, Insight, and comics.

According to the 2005 World Almanac, the Columbus Dispatch has the 36th highest newspaper circulation in the U.S., with approximately 352,510 in circulation. Recent numbers by the Audit Bureau of Circulation show a steep decline in circulation similar to most major American papers, with circulation of 218,940 on weekdays and 343,616 on Sunday.

[edit] Iranian cartoon controversy

The Dispatch published a cartoon depicting Iranians as cockroaches and Iran as a sewer. ^[10] The National Iranian American Council called the cartoon "racist" that "insulted and propagated hate against the Iranian American community." ^[11]