The ''Lansing State Journal'' is a
daily newspaper
A newspaper is a periodical publication containing written information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background.
Newspapers can cover a wide variety of fields such as politics, business, sports a ...
published in
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing () is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is mostly in Ingham County, although portions of the city extend west into Eaton County and north into Clinton County. The 2020 census placed the city's population at 112,644, making ...
, owned by
Gannett.
Overview
The ''Lansing State Journal'' is the sole daily newspaper published in
Greater Lansing. The newspaper had an average Monday through Friday readership of 41,330, a Saturday readership of 43,885, and a Sunday readership of 65,904 from October 2011 to March 2012.
History
![Lansing State Journal](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Lansing_State_Journal.jpg)
The paper was started as the ''Lansing Republican'' on April 28, 1855, to advance the causes of the newly founded
Republican Party in Michigan.
[Justin L. Kestenbaum (1981) ''Out of a Wilderness, An Illustrated History of Greater Lansing'', Woodland Hills, CA: Windsor Publications, p.10-11.] Founder and publisher Henry Barnes completed only two issues of the weekly abolitionist publication before selling it and returning to
Detroit
Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...
.
According to the Pioneer History of Ingham County, "In a few weeks, Barnes sold his interests to Herman E. Haskill. Shortly after Haskill made this purchase he met with a great disappointment. He was not appointed State Printer. Two men, Fitch and Hosmer, got the appointment, and Haskill sold his interests to them, and they published the paper in connection with the State printing. In 1857 Fitch sold his interests to John A. Kerr, and the firm’s name was changed to Kerr & Hosmer. I can remember the two men and the old red building on West Michigan Avenue where the State printing and binding was done, and this paper was published. It had a long sign on the roof that informed the passerby that it was the State Bindery and Republican Office."
Over the next 50 years, the paper saw many name changes and many different owners, finally merging with the rival ''Lansing Journal'' forming ''The Lansing Journal-Republican'' with the January 23, 1911 edition. Three weeks later with the February 13, 1911 edition, the paper officially became ''The State Journal'' in an effort to be "unbiased and uninfluenced by the political views or aims of any party."
The first Sunday edition was published on September 27, 1936. Gannett bought the paper in 1971, and it became the ''Lansing State Journal'' on August 25, 1980. On April 15, 1985, it became a morning publication, rather than an afternoon one. In January 2016, the LSJ moved from its Lenawee Street headquarters building to the 3rd floor of the
Knapp's Centre building.
Notable people
Former contributors:
*
Michael Gallagherreporter
References
External links
''Lansing State Journal'' homepage
{{Lansing-East Lansing
Newspapers published in Michigan
Lansing, Michigan
Gannett publications
1855 establishments in Michigan
Populated places established in 1855