New York Star (1948–1949)

The ''New York Star'' (1948–1949) was a short-lived newspaper that succeeded the '' PM'' newspaper (1940–1948), owned by US attorney Bartley Crum and journalist Joseph Fels Barnes.

History

On June 23, 1948, ''The New York Times'' announced the first appearance that day of the ''New York Star'' as successor to the ''PM'' newspaper. In particular, the ''Star'' stressed differences from its predecessor. The ''Star'' would be "as independent of the tyranny of slogans and colors as it is of vested interests." In defining its independence, the paper stated it would be neither "red, white, pink, right, left, or center" because such terms had been over-used, "squeezed like lemon rinds". The paper looked forward to continued policies of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Wendell Willkie. Most strongly, the newspaper said it would stop the "''PM'' technique of combining editorial comment with news stories." Instead, the ''New York Star'' would "report the news as honestly and well as skill can manage."

The paper published daily except for Saturdays in 1948
and 1949.

The newspaper ceased publication in January, 1949; media critic A. J. Liebling, in the February 12, 1949, edition of ''The New Yorker'', discussed the closing of the newspaper in a column entitled "Toward a One-Paper Town". Some sources cite a final publication date of Friday, January 28, 1949 (see, e.g., Mary A. Hamilton's book ''Rising from the Wilderness: J. W. Gitt and His Legendary Newspaper'', page 153).

'' The Daily Compass'' took over from the ''Star'', with contributor Ted Thackrey as editor and writer I. F. Stone its best known writer.

Personnel

Journalist Joseph Fels Barnes and attorney Bartley Crum (recently famous thanks to his role in defending Hollywood personalities to become known as the " Hollywood Ten") bought majority ownership from Marshall Field III, who retained a minority share.

Leon Shimkin of Simon & Schuster and Pocket Books was the ''Star''s business manager.

Max Lerner, a chief contributor of signed ''PM'' editorials in the past, would continue to contribute to the ''Star''. Other contributors included I. F. Stone, Albert Deutsch, Alex Uhl, as well as Myril Axelrod Bennett, Ted Thackrey, Walt Kelly (cartoonist who created '' Pogo''), and Matilda Landsman.

See also

* ''PM'' (newspaper)
* Bartley Crum
* Joseph Barnes
* Marshall Field III
* Max Lerner
* Ted Thackrey
* I. F. Stone

References

Defunct newspapers published in New York City
Newspapers established in 1948
Publications disestablished in 1948
Publications disestablished in 1949
Communist newspapers
Socialist newspapers published in the United States
Daily newspapers published in New York City
Socialism in New York (state)

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