Lee Enterprise & Lincoln Journal Star 1995
Source: Fourester Research, Google
Source: Fourester Research
Lee Enterprises
Lee Enterprises is the fourth-largest newspaper group in the United States, founded in 1890 by Alfred Wilson Lee in Davenport, Iowa, which remains its headquarters to this day. The company publishes 72 daily newspapers in 25 states, along with nearly 350 weekly and specialty publications, serving 73 mid-sized communities with over 771,000 digital subscribers. Lee has experienced significant transformation in recent years, pivoting from a traditional print business to a digital-first subscription platform focused on delivering high-quality local news, information, and advertising services across multiple channels. Currently under pressure from changing media consumption habits and significant debt from past acquisitions, Lee is pursuing a strategy focused on digital growth through expanding its subscription base, enhancing its digital advertising capabilities through its Amplified Digital agency, and exploring partnerships with technology companies to create new revenue pathways.
Source: Fourester Research
Source: Yahoo
Source: Google, 500 3rd Street, Davenport
The Seacrest Family Sold To Lee Enterprises
The Lincoln Journal Star's story begins on September 7, 1867, when Charles Henry Gere founded the Nebraska Commonwealth. Gere was a New York native, Civil War veteran of the Union Army, and an attorney who had studied law in Baltimore. Wikipedia
The Nebraska Commonwealth was Lincoln's first newspaper. By December 1, 1869, when the Nebraska State Capitol was completed, the Commonwealth newspaper was renamed the Nebraska State Journal. Wikipedia
The paper was initially founded by Charles H. Gere and W.W. Carder, and while it was established in 1867, it didn't become a daily publication until July 20, 1870. In 1869, John Q. Brownslee joined Gere as a publisher of the paper. Wikipedia
The paper's lineage continued through multiple owners and mergers. In the early 1900s, J.C. Seacrest (a former Journal reporter) bought the Lincoln Evening News, which was printed by the State Journal as an evening edition. Later, the Seacrest family became prominent owners, with Joe W. Seacrest eventually handing the reins to his son Joe R. and his brother Fred's son, Mark. Journalstar
The Lincoln Journal Star as we know it today is the result of a 1995 merger. The Lincoln Star (established in 1905) was the morning newspaper while the Lincoln Journal (descended from Gere's original Nebraska Commonwealth/Nebraska State Journal) was the evening paper. Lee Enterprises, which had owned the Star since 1930, purchased the Journal from the Seacrest family in 1995 and merged the two papers.
The Seacrest family owned and operated the Lincoln Journal Star newspaper for over a century, from 1887 to 1995 Members of the Seacrest Family owned and operated the Lincoln Journal newspaper from 1887 to 1995.. J.C. Seacrest was the original family owner and publisher of the Lincoln Journal from 1897 to 1942, establishing a family legacy in journalism Lincoln Journal, Lincoln, NE, owner and publisher, 1897-1942.
His son Joe W. Seacrest continued the family tradition as co-publisher of the Lincoln Journal, and under his leadership, the newspaper won the Pulitzer Prize in 1949 Under Joe W.'s direction, the Lincoln Journal won the Pulitzer Prize in 1949 for 'most distinguished and meritorious service rendered by an American newspaper.'. In 1971, Joe W. Seacrest chose his son Joe R. Seacrest and his nephew Mark Seacrest to run the Journal In 1971, Joe W. Seacrest chose his son Joe R. Seacrest and his nephew Mark Seacrest to run the Journal..
Joe R. Seacrest began working for the editorial department of the Lincoln Journal in 1946 and had a 40-year career with the newspaper, serving as managing editor from 1958 to 1973 and then as editor from 1973 to 1986 During this time period he was the managing editor of the Lincoln Journal (1958-1973) and the editor of it (1973-1986)..
Mark T. Seacrest was a pivotal figure in the Lincoln, Nebraska newspaper industry, serving as chairman of the board of Journal-Star Printing Company from 1982 to 1985, after previously holding the position of president beginning in 1971. His newspaper career began modestly in the circulation department in 1948, showcasing his commitment to learning the business from the ground up before ascending to the board of directors in 1951. Mark was part of the influential Seacrest family that owned and operated the Lincoln Journal newspaper from 1887 to 1995, working alongside his cousin Joe R. Seacrest to lead the Journal after being chosen by Joe W. Seacrest in 1971. His leadership came during a transformative period for the newspaper industry, and he helped maintain the Journal's position as a cornerstone of Nebraska journalism until the family ultimately sold their interest to Lee Enterprises in 1995, just before the merger that created the Lincoln Journal Star. A graduate of Lincoln High School who continued his education at Colorado A&M University, Mark also established a family legacy of his own with his wife Margaret and their three children: John, Mark, and Nancy.
As previously disclosed, in March 1995, Lee Enterprises acquired the Lincoln Journal from the Seacrest family, ending over a century of family ownership that dated back to 1887 The Seacrest family sells its interest in the newspaper to Lee Enterprises. The acquisition was part of a significant consolidation in the newspaper industry during the 1990s, as family-owned papers increasingly sold to larger corporate entities. The Lincoln Journal and Lincoln Star, which had already combined for Saturday and Sunday editions, printed their final separate editions in August 1995, with the first daily Lincoln Journal Star published on August 7, 1995 The two papers published their final, separate daily editions Aug. 4, and the first daily Journal Star published Aug. 7.. This merger represented a pivotal moment in Lincoln's media landscape, combining the morning Star (established in 1902/1905) with the evening Journal (which traced its lineage to the Nebraska Commonwealth founded in 1867) into a single publication under Lee Enterprises' corporate umbrella. The acquisition of the Lincoln newspapers was one of Lee's significant expansions in the 1990s, occurring several years before its much larger acquisitions of Howard Publications (2002) and Pulitzer Inc. (2005).The two papers published their final, separate daily editions Aug. 4, and the first daily Journal Star published Aug. 7.. Joe R. Seacrest passed away in 1995, just three days before the Seacrest family sold the Lincoln Journal to Lee Enterprises Joe died in 1995, three days before the Seacrest Family sold the Lincoln Journal to Lee Enterprises Inc..
Source: Fourester Research
Seacrest Family Members Linked to the Lincoln Journal
J.C. Seacrest - Original owner and publisher of the Lincoln Journal (1897-1942) Lincoln Journal, Lincoln, NE, owner and publisher, 1897-1942
Frederick "Fred" S. Seacrest - Son of J.C. Seacrest; co-publisher with his brother Joe W. after their father's death On the Journal side, Joe W. Seacrest and his brother, Fred, were co-publishers of the Journal.
Joseph "Joe W." Seacrest - Son of J.C. Seacrest; co-publisher with his brother Fred; under his leadership, the Lincoln Journal won the Pulitzer Prize in 1949 Under Joe W.'s direction, the Lincoln Journal won the Pulitzer Prize in 1949 for 'most distinguished and meritorious service rendered by an American newspaper.'
Joseph "Joe R." Seacrest - Son of Joe W. Seacrest; held positions as managing editor (1958-1973) and editor (1973-1986); began working at the Journal in 1946 During this time period he was the managing editor of the Lincoln Journal (1958-1973) and the editor of it (1973-1986).
Mark T. Seacrest - Mark Tilton Seacrest (1920-1999) was a publisher of the Lincoln Journal Star newspaper in Nebraska, serving as president of the Journal-Star Printing Company in 1971 after previously working in the circulation department. He was born on April 20, 1920, and was part of a family legacy in newspaper publishing, as his father Fred Seacrest and uncle Joe W. Seacrest had consolidated the Lincoln Journal with the Lincoln Star in 1950. Mark Tilton Seacrest and his cousin Joe R. Seacrest served as publishers until the paper was sold to Lee Enterprises in 1995. In 1971, Joe W. Seacrest chose his son Joe R. Seacrest and his nephew Mark Seacrest to run the Journal.
James "Jim" C. Seacrest - Son of Joe W. Seacrest; worked in the newspaper business for 40 years (1968-2000), primarily with Western Publishing Co. in North Platte Jim was in the newspaper business for 40 years, 1968-2000, at Western Publishing Co. in North Platte, president and chairman of the board.
Gary Seacrest - Son of Joe R. Seacrest; succeeded his father as editor of the Journal Joe R. Seacrest (Joe W's son) was editor and Jack Hart was managing editor. Joe R. was succeeded by his son, Gary.
Beatrice "Mike" Seacrest - Wife of Joe R. Seacrest; though not directly involved in newspaper operations, she was active in Lincoln civic organizations Members of the Seacrest Family owned and operated the Lincoln Journal newspaper from 1887 to 1995. Mike Seacrest had two careers: One, a mother of five and a homemaker from 1945 to 1972; and two, a local TV "talk show hostess" from 1972 to 1985.
Eric Seacrest - Son of Joe R. and Mike Seacrest; based in North Platte nephews and niece, Eric (Kim)Seacrest, North Platte
Ted Seacrest - Son of Joe R. and Mike Seacrest Ted Seacrest, Lincoln and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Kent Seacrest - Son of Joe R. and Mike Seacrest Kent (Ann) Seacrest
Shawn (Seacrest) Farrar - Daughter of Joe R. and Mike Seacrest Shawn(Doug) Farrar, all of Lincoln
Nancy Jeanne Seacrest - Nancy Jeanne Seacrest (Wright) was born on June 3, 1943, in Greenville, South Carolina, and passed away on December 2, 2019, at her home in Castle Rock, Colorado. She was deeply loved by her family, described as "the Queen” of the family. Nancy's family was intimately involved with the Lincoln newspaper and had strong connections to Lincoln, Nebraska. She and her husband were dedicated to education, having mentored a "family" of 29 individual scholars through the ARCS Foundation over the years. After her passing, Nancy was buried at Fairmount Cemetery in Denver, Colorado. Her legacy of family devotion and commitment to supporting education continues to be remembered.
The Seacrest family owned and operated the Lincoln Journal from 1887 until 1995, when they sold it to Lee Enterprises In March 1995, Lee Enterprises bought the Lincoln Journal from the Seacrest family.. After the sale, the Lincoln Journal merged with the Lincoln Star to form the Lincoln Journal Star.
Source: Wikipedia, Google, Fourester Research