The ''Free Press'' (or FP; founded as the ''Manitoba Free Press''; previously known as the ''Winnipeg Free Press'') is a daily (excluding Sunday)

broadsheet A broadsheet is the largest newspaper format and is characterized by long Vertical and horizontal, vertical pages, typically of in height. Other common newspaper formats include the smaller Berliner (format), Berliner and Tabloid (newspaper ...

newspaper A newspaper is a Periodical literature, periodical publication containing written News, 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 poli ...

Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...

Manitoba Manitoba is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population ...

, Canada. It provides coverage of local, provincial, national, and international news, as well as current events in sports, business, and entertainment and various consumer-oriented features, such as homes and automobiles appear on a weekly basis. The ''WFP'' was founded in 1872, only two years after Manitoba became part of Canada, in 1870. The WFP's founding predated Winnipeg's own incorporation, in 1873. The ''Winnipeg Free Press'' has since become the oldest newspaper in

Western Canada Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces, Canadian West, or Western provinces of Canada, and commonly known within Canada as the West, is a list of regions of Canada, Canadian region that includes the four western provinces and t ...

that is still active.

Timeline

November 30, 1872: The ''Manitoba Free Press'' was launched by William Fisher Luxton and John A. Kenny. Luxton bought a press in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

and, along with Kenny, rented a shack at 555 Main Street, near the present corner of Main Street and James Avenue. 1874: The paper moved to a new building on Main Street, across from St. Mary Avenue. 1882: Control of the ''Free Press'' was passed on to Clifford Sifton. The organization subsequently moved to a building on McDermot Avenue, where it would remain until 1900. 1900: The paper moved to a new address on McDermot Avenue at Albert Street. 1901: John Wesley Dafoe served as president,

editor-in-chief An editor-in-chief (EIC), also known as lead editor or chief editor, is a publication's editorial leader who has final responsibility for its operations and policies. The editor-in-chief heads all departments of the organization and is held accoun ...

, and editorial writer for the ''WFP'' until 1944. 1905: The newspaper moved to a four-storey building at

Portage Portage or portaging ( CA: ; ) is the practice of carrying water craft or cargo over land, either around an obstacle in a river, or between two bodies of water. A path where items are regularly carried between bodies of water is also called a '' ...

and Garry. Winnipeg Free Press Building

1913: The newspaper moved to 300 Carlton Street and would remain there for 78 years. 1920: The ''Free Press'' took its newsprint supplier before the

Judicial Committee of the Privy Council The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) is the highest court of appeal for the Crown Dependencies, the British Overseas Territories, some Commonwealth countries and a few institutions in the United Kingdom. Established on 14 August ...

for violating the War Measures Act during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. The newspaper won the case, known as '' Fort Frances Pulp and Paper v Manitoba Free Press'', as the court determined that whether the state of national emergency continued after the war was a political matter for

Parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...

. December 2, 1931: The paper was renamed the ''Winnipeg Free Press''. 1991: The ''Free Press'' moved to its current location in the Inkster Industrial Park, a plant at 1355 Mountain Avenue. Rear Side of Winnipeg Free Press Building

Rear Side of Winnipeg Free Press Building

December 2001: The ''Free Press'' and its sister paper, '' Brandon Sun'', were bought from Thomson Newspapers by FP Canadian Newspapers Limited Partnership.

Strike

In 2008, at noon on

Thanksgiving Day Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in October and November in the United States, Canada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil and Germany. It is also observed in the Australian territory ...

(Monday, October 13), about 1,000 members of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union, representing editorial, advertising, circulation, and press staff, as well as newspaper carriers, launched a

strike action Strike action, also called labor strike, labour strike in British English, or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to Working class, work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Str ...

. The strike ended 16 days later, when the union ratified the final offer on Tuesday, October 28. The contract was ratified by 67% of newspaper carriers, 75% of the pressmen, and 91% of the inside workers, including journalists. The recent five-year contract was negotiated, ratified, and signed in 2013, with no threat of a strike. Workers and managers negotiated directly with great success, without the need of a lawyer that previous contracts had required.

Circulation

As of November 1, 2009, the ''WFP'' ceased publishing a regular Sunday edition. In its place, a Sunday-only tabloid called ''On 7'' was launched, but it has since been discontinued. On March 27, 2011, the impending arrival of Metro in the Winnipeg market caused the Sunday newspaper to be retooled as a

format, ''Winnipeg Free Press SundayXtra''. The Sunday edition is now available exclusively online. According to figures via Canadian Newspaper Association, the ''Free Press''' average weekday circulation for 2013 was 108,583, while on Saturdays it was 144,278. Because of the relatively small population of Manitoba, that meant that over 10% of the population could be receiving the paper and its advertisements. Like most Canadian daily newspapers, the ''Free Press'' has seen a decline in circulation, dropping its total by % to 106,473 copies daily from 2009 to 2015. Figures refer to the total circulation (print and digital combined), which includes paid and unpaid copies. :::::::::Daily average As of 2023, the ''Winnipeg Free Press'' media kit claims that 1.15 million users visit the newspaper's network of sites each month, and that in Winnipeg, 439,000 adults read the publication in print or digital format each week.

Notable staff

* John Wesley Dafoe 1901-1944, president, editor-in-chief, & wrote influential editorials * Charles Edwards (1928 – early-1930s): journalist and news agency executive * Bartley Kives (2000–2016): arts and news writer; left to join CBWT-DT as a television journalist. * Vince Leah (1980–1993): journalist, writer, sports administrator and member of the Order of Canada * Bob Moir (1948–1958): television producer, sports commentator, and journalist * Hal Sigurdson (1951–1963; 1976–1996): columnist and sports editor from 1976 to 1989 * Maurice Smith (1927–1937; 1940–1976): columnist and sports editor from 1944 to 1976 * Scott Young (1936–1940): sports writer from 1936 to 1940

References

External links

* {{Authority control Newspapers published in Winnipeg Newspapers established in 1872 Daily newspapers published in Manitoba 1872 establishments in Manitoba