Ocala StarBanner
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(December 2011) |
 | |
 The 30 September 2006 cover of theStar-Banner | |
| Type | Dailynewspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Broadsheet |
| Owner(s) | Gannett |
| Publisher | Rynni Henderson (2019–present)[1] |
| Editor | Douglas Ray |
| Headquarters | Ocala, Florida, United States |
| Circulation | 42,869[2] |
| ISSN | 0163-3201 |
| Website | ocala |
TheOcala StarBanneris the daily newspaper inOcala, Florida,United States, and servesMarion Countyand the surrounding communities. TheOcala StarBannerhas a daily circulation of about 43,000, and is the 19th-largest newspaper in the state of Florida.[2]
History
[edit]The East Florida Bannerstarted publishing weekly in Marion County, Florida, in 1866, by printer-editor Francis Eppes "Frank" Harris (1846–1928). Frank was the editor and owner of theOcala Banneruntil his death, being owned and operated by the family until sold during World War II. Frank Harris' grandson, Harris Powers, took over operations after his grandfather's death until he joined the war effort.
The East Florida Bannerwas sold to George W. Wilson in 1881 and was renamedThe Florida Banner-Laconwhen it merged withThe Florida Lacon.In 1883, the name was changed toThe Ocala Banner.In 1890,The Ocala Bannerbecame a daily newspaper. In 1895, theOcala Evening Starsurfaced as a rival to theOcala Banner.Beginning in 1897, it also appeared in a weekly edition, theOcala Weekly Star.During an address to the Ocala Rotary Club, R. N. Dosh, editor of theEvening Starin the 1920s and 1930s, recalled that the "Star first saw the light of day in the press room of the Florida Baptist Witness", founded in 1884 as the weekly press organ of the Florida Baptist Convention, a branch of theSouthern Baptist Convention.[3]The Ocala Star-Bannerwas combined into one publication on 1 September 1943, and has remained the daily newspaper in Marion County since that time.
Situated in rural Marion County, theOcala Bannercovered farming, business, and civic issues in Ocala, where theFreeze of 1895had devastated the citrus industry and paved the way for diversified agriculture and the growth of tourism.[3]
Halifax Media Groupacquired the paper in 2012.[4]In 2015, Halifax was acquired byNew Media Investment Group.[5]
In March 2024, the newspaper switched from carrier to postal delivery.[6]
References
[edit]- ^Ray, Douglas (17 June 2019)."Rynni Henderson named publisher of The Gainesville Sun".The Gainseville Sun.Retrieved12 May2021.
- ^ab"eCirc:US Newspaper - Search Results (not available)".Audit Bureau of Circulations.Retrieved3 December2007.[permanent dead link]
- ^ab"The Ocala banner"– via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
- ^Halifax Media purchases 16 newspapersArchived9 January 2012 at theWayback Machine
- ^New Media Announces Agreement to Acquire Halifax Media Group for $280.0 MillionArchived7 March 2016 at theWayback Machine
- ^Delgado, Jeremiah (23 March 2024)."Ocala's oldest newspaper cites digital dominance in switch to mail delivery".Ocala-News.com.Retrieved29 June2024.
External links
[edit]- Ocala.com,theStar–Banner's online site
- Today'sOcala StarBannerfront pageat theFreedom Forumwebsite
- Historic Issues of the Ocala Evening Star(1985–1922) atFlorida and Puerto Rico Digital Newspaper Project
- Historic Issues of the Ocala Banner(1883–1909) atFlorida and Puerto Rico Digital Newspaper Project
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