Position of publisher a recent news development

The Flint Journal has had only three publishers in 125 years. . No, they didn’t average more than 41 years apiece in the job; the job didn’t exist until 1978, more than a century after the newspaper was founded.

So who ran the operation before 1978? It was a team effort: an editor on the news content side and a manager on the business and financial side. In the early years, the manager was most likely also the owner.

One of those managers, for a short time in 1901, was a woman — the widow of John Coon, who had purchased the paper in 1888.

When The Journal was bought by Booth Newspapers Inc. in 1911, a professional manager named Charles M. Greenway was installed. His hiring marked the end of the era in which owners were directly involved in the paper’s day-to-day operations.

Booth continued to have managers and editors co-manage The Journal, and that practice was maintained for two more years after the Newhouse family bought the paper in 1976. But on Oct. 24, 1978, Robert Swartz became the first publisher. He had started at The Journal in the advertising department 29 years before and also worked at The Grand Rapids Press.

He remembers learning a lot from the managers and editors who preceded him at The Journal.

“These men had a common trait,” said Swartz, now living in Florida. “They were all dedicated to the newspaper and to the Flint community. They taught that the way to succeed in the newspaper business was to practice integrity, responsibility and hard work.”

Swartz retired in 1987 and Danny Gaydou became publisher.

“Having grown up in Flint, Gaydou knew everything about cars, GM and the UAW, so his return as publisher of The Flint Journal made a lot of sense,” recalled Tom Lindley, who became editor a year after Gaydou became publisher. “We were both hungry for a challenge and convinced we could publish the best newspaper around and help make things right in a town ticketed for downsizing.”

Roger Samuel

At the start of 1996, Gaydou moved on to Grand Rapids and his advertising director, Roger D. Samuel, was named publisher. He is overseeing the largest expansion of The Journal in its history with the construction of a new pressroom and distribution center in downtown Flint.

“We’ve made a commitment of well over $20 million to build a new production facility,” said Samuel, who is active in many community organizations.

“One absolute promise I’ll make to readers is that in a little over two years the paper will look very different and, we hope in their eyes, be much improved over what they’re reading today. The new press gives us a great opportunity to make some very appealing design changes in the paper.”

He credits loyal readers and advertisers and their “ongoing investment” for the expansion.

As Flint and its surrounding communities have changed, The Journal has adapted to remain a viable business. And that must continue, Samuel said.

“The challenges come in the changing nature of our circulation area,” he said. “What once was a thriving center city looks very different now. Our suburbs are growing, but to a large extent the growth is fueled by jobs outside Genesee County, to the south.

“How do we engage these new residents in a newspaper called The Flint Journal?” he asked. “I remain excited and optimistic about our future.”

He said he is inspired by the team effort needed to produce The Journal every day.

“What makes my job most fulfilling is the opportunity to work with wonderful people who are dedicated to putting out the best newspaper possible,” he said.

— Paul M. Keep