The Morning Sun

''The Morning Sun'' is a newspaper published in Pittsburg, Kansas, United States. Though its history dates to the 1880s, it has been known as the ''Morning Sun'' since 1973. It was a seven-day daily paper, but decreased to five print editions a week (Tuesday to Friday, and Sunday) as of April 2017.(24 March 2017)
Morning Sun to move to five day schedule
''Morning Sun'' The paper was purchased by Pittsburg Publishing LLC in September 2021, and is currently published five days a week (Tue-Sat).

History

Early history (1880s to 1966)

The ''Morning Sun'' traces its origin to the ''Pittsburg Headlight'', a weekly which began publication in 1885, under the ownership of brothers Millard Fillmore (M.F.) Sears and W.F. Sears and cousin Harry Sears. M.F. Sears soon became the sole owner and took on Clarence W. (C.W.) Moore as his partner. In 1886, the ''Headlight'' bought out the ''Pittsburg Democrat'', which had been published by Thomas P. Montfort. (Montfort had acquired that publication around 1881, when it was called ''The People's Exponent'' (founded 1880), and had renamed it.) By 1887, Sears and Moore were publishing the ''Pittsburg Daily Headlight'' as a daily paper.Connelley, William E
History of Kansas Newspapers - 1854-1916
p. 171 (1916)Sun celebrates 115th anniversary, ''The Morning Sun'', April 16, 2002Campbell, Harold. Early residents could choose from an array of newspapers, ''The Morning Sun'', May 31, 2001 After C.W. Moore bought out M.F. Sears' interest, he began publishing with his father, William Moore (d. 1897) as "William Moore and Son" by 1888.Roberts, Randy and Mauk, Janette, ''Pittsburg'', p.36 (Arcadia Publishing 2009) () Two other sons of William Moore, J.T. and George A., joined by 1896, and eventually succeeded to ownership of the paper.Connelley, William E.
A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans
(1918)

In 1915, Paul Jones founded the ''Pittsburg Sun'', which was a morning paper. The Moore brothers purchased that paper in 1927, and both the ''Headlight'' and ''Sun'' were purchased that year by Oscar Stauffer. Stauffer's media holdings developed into Stauffer Communications.

Perhaps the most notable editor of the papers was Frederick W. (F.W.) Brinkeroff (b. Feb. 13, 1885, d. Aug. 13, 1966), who became editor of the ''Headlight'' in 1911, and also editor of the ''Sun'' in 1927. He served as editor of both papers until his death in August 1966, and was soon after inducted into the Kansas Newspaper Hall of Fame.Campbell, Harold.
In southeast Kansas, the name Brinkerhoff meant journalism
''The Morning Sun'', May 31, 2001Brinkerhoff, Fred - Kansas Newspaper Hall of Fame
Kansas Press Association, posted July 9, 2008, Retrieved September 27, 2010
''The New York Times'', September 17, 1961Special 'Brinkerhoff Day' Will Honor Pittsburg Editor
''Fort Scott Tribune'', September 12, 1961Frederick W. Brinkerhoff Papers
Kansas State Historical Society, Retrieved September 27, 2010

1966 ''Headlight'' and ''Sun'' merger to present

In 1966, the afternoon ''Headlight'' and morning ''Sun'' were merged into the ''Headlight-Sun''. The ''Morning Sun'' name was adopted in 1973.

In 1994, Morris Communications announced plans to acquire Stauffer Communications, which by that time was operating 20 daily newspapers (including the Morning Sun) and eight weeklies, in addition to a number of television and radio stations.Morris buys Stauffer
''Fort Scott Tribune'', July 27, 1994 At the time the circulation was 10,312.Roberts, Gene, ed
Leaving Readers Behind: The Age of Corporate Newspapering
p.59 (2001) In 2007, GateHouse Media acquired the paper from Morris Publishing Group as part of a larger sale of papers.GateHouse Media completes acquisition of Morris Publications
''Wichita Business Journal'', December 4, 2007Morris Selling Several Kansas Newspapers
''WIBW-TV'' (Associated Press), October 24, 2007

As of 2009, the reported circulation of the paper was 9,850. Circulation had declined to just over 4,000 by 2017.Pittsburg Morning Sun - Record Details
Kansas Press Association, Retrieved 24 April 2017 In March 2017, the paper announced it was moving from publishing 6-days a week (all days except Monday) to 5-days a week (dropping the Saturday edition).

See also

* List of newspapers in Kansas

References

External links

*

{{Gannett
Newspapers published in Kansas
Gannett publications
Publications established in 1885
1885 establishments in Kansas