{{Short description|Newspaper in Tucson}} {{For|other newspapers called Daily Star|Daily Star (disambiguation){{!}}Daily Star}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox newspaper | name = Arizona Daily Star | logo = Arizona Daily Star (2019-12-31).svg | image = File:Front Page of the Arizona Daily Star, March 28, 2024.png | caption = Front page | type = [[Daily newspaper]] | format = [[Broadsheet]] | founder = [[L. C. Hughes]] | founded = {{Start date and age|1877|03|29}} | owners = [[Lee Enterprises]] | circulation = 10,000 Digital Subscribers <ref>{{cite news |last1=Pallack |first1=Becky |title=A new fund will help support the future of Tucson local news. Here’s why it’s urgent. |url=https://azluminaria.org/2023/11/09/a-new-fund-will-help-support-the-future-of-tucson-local-news-heres-why-its-urgent/ |access-date=December 6, 2025 |publisher=Arizona Luminaria |date=November 9, 2023}}</ref> <br /> 39,500 Daily<br/>45,848 Sunday | circulation_date = 2023 | circulation_ref = <ref name="Lee Enterprises' 10-K annual filing">{{cite web|url=https://investors.lee.net/static-files/d97194ec-e9c5-4e1c-8c74-a05e37542331 |title=Form 10-K|author=Lee Enterprises |website=investors.lee.net |access-date=February 29, 2024}}</ref> | headquarters = 4061 W Costco Drive <br>[[Tucson, Arizona]] 85741 | publishing_country = United States | website = {{URL|https://tucson.com/}} | ISSN = 0888-546X | oclc = 2949521 }} The '''''Arizona Daily Star''''' is an American [[daily newspaper]] based in [[Tucson, Arizona]], and owned by [[Lee Enterprises]]. It serves Tucson and surrounding districts of [[Southern Arizona]] in the United States.
==History== ===1877–1923=== On March 1, 1877, [[L. C. Hughes]], who went on to serve as [[List of governors of Arizona|Arizona Territory governor]], and Charles H. Tully published the first edition of ''The Daily Bulletin'' in Tucson, Arizona. It was published six days a week.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 3, 1877 |title=Notice |work=Arizona Weekly Citizen |location=Tucson, Arizona |pages=3}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=Star's History Is Half Century Of Tucson |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/164016781/ |website= Arizona Daily Star|date=February 22, 1934|via=Newspapers.com|page=51}}</ref> After a month, print production was scaled back to three days a week and the paper was renamed to ''The Arizona Star''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 31, 1877 |title=Notice |work=Arizona Weekly Citizen |location=Tucson, Arizona |pages=3}}</ref> On June 28, 1877, the ''Star'' became a once weekly and Tully exited the business.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 28, 1877 |title=Our Weekly. |work=Arizona Weekly Star |location=Tucson, Arizona |pages=2}}</ref> A.E. Fay soon became co-owner and bought Hughes out that August.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 31, 1877 |title=Newspaper Changes. |work=Weekly Journal-Miner |location=Prescott, Arizona |pages=2}}</ref>
Hughes returned to ''The Star'' in December 1878,<ref name=":1" /> first as co-publisher with Fay and a few months later as sole owner.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 28, 1879 |title=Local Intelligence. |work=Weekly Journal-Miner |location=Prescott, Arizona |pages=3}}</ref> On June 26, 1879, Hughes launched a daily edition of the paper called ''The Arizona Daily Star''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 26, 1879 |title=Our Daily |work=Arizona Weekly Star |location=Tuscon, Arizona |pages=2}}</ref> The first edition had the wrong date at the top of the page.<ref name=":1" /> ''The Star'' moved its quarters from Maiden Lane to Church and Congress streets in Downtown Tucson July 28, 1881. ''The'' ''Daily Star'' and ''The Weekly Star'' were placed in the control of The Star Publishing company on Aug. 28, 1885. Hughes continued as editor and manager.<ref name=":1" />
In 1907, Hughes sold ''The Star'' to William B. Kelly and his father George H. Kelly, owners of a newspaper chain called the State Consolidated Publishing Company.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 30, 1907 |title=To Our Friends And Patrons |work=Arizona Daily Star |location=Tucson, Arizona |pages=2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=July 18, 1907 |title=Another Kelly Newspaper." |work=Bisbee Daily Review |location=Bisbee, Arizona |pages=4}}</ref> W.B. Kelly disposed of his interests in the business three years later to his father, who continued to published ''The Star'', ''Bisbee Daily Review'' and ''Douglas International''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 8, 1910 |title=Editorial Announcement |work=Bisbee Daily Review |location=Bisbee, Arizona |pages=4}}</ref> In 1915, Hughes, who founded the ''Star'', died at age 73.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 28, 1915 |title=Two Generations Gather To Pay Tribute Of Honor To Dead Pioneer |work=Arizona Daily Star |location=Tucson, Arizona |pages=1}}</ref>
=== 1924–1971 === At some point the [[Phelps Dodge Corporation]] became the majority stock owner in the business. In 1924, the company sold ''The Star'' to William R. Mathews and Ralph E. Ellinwood.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 31, 1924 |title=Ownership Of Star Changes On November 1 |work=Arizona Daily Star |location=Tucson, Arizona |pages=2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=November 1, 1924 |title=Oldest Paper In Arizona Is Sold |work=The Houston Post |location=Houston, Texas |pages=5 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Less than a year later, the paper added a Monday edition, thus printing seven days a week.<ref name=":1" /> In 1929, former owner G.H. Kelly died.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 11, 1929 |title=Geo. H. Kelly, Press Veteran Of State, Dies |work=Arizona Daily Star |location=Tucson, Arizona |pages=1}}</ref> In 1930, editor Ellinwood died.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 1, 1930 |title=Ralph E. Ellinwood Has Passed Away |work=Arizona Daily Star |location=Tucson, Arizona |pages=6}}</ref> Mathews then succeeded him as editor.<ref name=":1" />
On Dec. 18, 1933, ''The Star'''s building was almost totally destroyed by a fire beginning at 8 o'clock in the morning, causing a $60,000 loss. Offers of aid came from newspapers in Phoenix, Bisbee and Nogales while the blaze still burned. By 4 o'clock in the afternoon temporary headquarters established at Jackson and Stone avenue in the Old Pueblo club building, and arrangements were completed for using ''The Citizen''<nowiki/>'s mechanical department and press. The following day, ''The Star'' issued as usual despite the fire. Pictures of the burning building were engraved and rushed by airplane from Phoenix and used in this issue—less than 24 hours after the fire. The paper carried 10 pages.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=December 19, 1933 |title=Star Carries On After Serious Blaze |work=Arizona Daily Star |location=Tucson, Arizona |pages=1}}</ref>
On Jan. 25, 1934, ''The Star'' moved its entire mechanical department back to the remodeled and rebuilt building that had burned. The one time in the history of the paper when it could not put out an extra, the [[Dillinger Gang|Dillinger gang]] was captured in Tucson. ''The Star'' was commended by the [[Associated Press]] for "beating" all other services by over an hour in filing this national news on the Dillinger's capture.<ref name=":1" /> ''Star'' editor Mathews predicted the Japanese military could attack the U.S. Navy at [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|Pearl Harbor]] in an editorial Nov. 28, 1941.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 28, 1941 |title=Editorial {{!}} The Meaning of Mr. Kurusu's Mission |work=Arizona Daily Star |pages=12}}</ref> Mathews attended the signing of [[Japan's surrender]] on Sept. 2, 1945, aboard the {{USS|Missouri|BB-63|6}}. His report ran over two weeks later.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mathews |first=William R. |date=September 18, 1945 |title=Nipponese Fall Fulfills Word Of Shigemitsu {{!}} Jap Foreign Minister, Who Signed Surrender, Had Forecast It in '37 |work=Arizona Daily Star |pages=1}}</ref>
In 1965, William A. Small Sr. and his family, owners of the ''[[Tucson Citizen]]'', bought ''The'' ''Star.'' He and operated both paper separately. The ''Citizen'' was published daily except for Sunday, in the afternoon.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 6, 1965 |title=Sale Of Star To Citizen Completed {{!}} Property, Leases Go For $10 Million |work=Arizona Daily Star |pages=1}}</ref>
=== 1971–present === ''The Star'' was sold to the [[Pulitzer Publishing Company]] on April 8, 1971.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 9, 1971 |title=Daily Star Purchased By Pulitzer |work=Arizona Daily Star |pages=1}}</ref> ''The Star'' completed its move, along with the ''Tucson Citizen'', which was not owned by the Pulitzer company, to a new building on South Park Avenue in August 1973. The two papers were in a joint operating agreement, in which they shared a press and building and some operations, while the newsrooms were entirely separate. The joint company was called Tucson Newspapers Inc.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Parham |first=Maria |date=August 20, 1973 |title=Today's Star Marks New Era In Production Of Newspapers |work=Arizona Daily Star |pages=1}}</ref>
On July 22, 1982, seven people were injured in three explosions at the paper's printing plant. Executive managing editor Frank E. Johnson, business manager Frank C. Delehanty, production manager Wayne Bean and chief photographer Jack Sheaffer were critically injured.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lawler |first=Edmund |last2=Garcia |first2=Felipe |last3=Watt |first3=Joe |date=July 23, 1982 |title=Explosion rocks Star's plant, leaving 7 injured, 4 critically {{!}} Power loses halts presses, news rooms |work=Arizona Daily Star |pages=1}}</ref> A month later Delehanty died of infections resulting from his injuries.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 30, 1982 |title=Star's business manager dies from blast injuries |work=Arizona Daily Star |pages=1}}</ref>
On May 5, 1995, the ''Star'' launched its own website, azstarnet.com, which, in its early years, also functioned as an [[internet service provider]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cauthorn |first=Robert S. |date=May 5, 1995 |title=StarNet rooted in new vision {{!}} To link citizenry in on-line forum |work=Arizona Daily Star |pages=1}}</ref> The website was later changed to tucson.com. It was announced on Jan. 30, 2005, that [[Lee Enterprises Inc.]] would buy the newspapers owned by Pulitzer Inc. The sale included the ''Star''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wichner |first=David |date=January 31, 2005 |title=Lee buys Star, Pulitzer for $1.46 billion |work=Arizona Daily Star |pages=1}}</ref>
The ''Tucson Citizen'', a [[Gannett]] newspaper, ceased print publication, with the last edition published on May 16, 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Quinn |first=Dale |last2=Fischer |first2=Howard |date=May 16, 2009 |title=AG sues to block closing of Citizen {{!}} Star's owners denies it conspired with Gannett on paper's shutdown |work=Arizona Daily Star |pages=A001}}</ref> Press operations for the ''Star'' moved to Phoenix on May 21, 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 22, 2019 |title=Star to move printing, packaging operations to Phoenix in late May |work=Arizona Daily Star |pages=A1}}</ref> Owners of the ''Star'' sold the building at 4850 S. Park Ave. for more than $2 million at auction in September 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rico |first=Gabriela |date=September 17, 2020 |title=Arizona Daily Star building sells for more than $3M at auction |work=Arizona Daily Star |pages=A11}}</ref>
==Awards== In [[1981 Pulitzer Prize|1981]], ''Star'' reporters Clark Hallas and Robert B. Lowe won the [[Pulitzer Prize for Local Investigative Specialized Reporting]] for their stories about recruiting violations by [[University of Arizona]] [[college football|football]] coach, [[Tony Mason (American football)|Tony Mason]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 14, 1981 |title=Two Arizona Daily Star Reporters Win Pulitzer Award for Story on UA Coach |work=Arizona Daily Sun |location=Flagstaff, Arizona |pages=11 |agency=United Press International}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/clark-hallas-and-robert-b-lowe|title=The Pulitzer Prizes|access-date=September 5, 2019}}</ref>
==Court cases==
In 1940, the ''Tucson Citizen'' and ''Arizona Daily Star'' entered into a [[Joint operating agreement]] (JOA) that was later extended to 1990. The joint company owned equally by the two newspapers was Tucson Newspapers Inc. (TNI) The JOA helped bolster the ''Tucson Citizen'' by increasing advertising revenue since ads could now be sold by TNI for both papers.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Citizen Publishing Co. v. United States (1969) |url=https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/46/citizen-publishing-co-v-united-states |website= Free Speech Center|date=January 1, 2009|last=Bowman|first=Meredith|last2=Huber|first2=Walter|publisher=[[Middle Tennessee State University]]|access-date=April 12, 2026}}</ref>
In 1965, the U.S. government filed a complaint that the new company violated the Sherman Antitrust Act and the Clayton Act. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed, saying the First Amendment does not exempt newspapers from laws aimed at preserving competition. In response to the decision, Congress passed the Newspaper Preservation Act of 1970 to allow joint operating agreements.<ref name=":0" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{official website}} * {{LCCN8|sn84020668|chronicling=yes}} * [https://tucson.newspapers.com/ ''Arizona Daily Star'' Archives (1879 to present)] * {{Newseum front page|AZ_ADS}} * [http://tucson.com/sb1070/ The ''Arizona Daily Star''{{'}}s 2014 project on SB1070, "State of Confusion", Arizona Daily Star, March, 2014] * [http://tucson.com/poverty/ The ''Arizona Daily Star''{{'}}s 2013 series on poverty, "Losing Ground", ''Arizona Daily Star'', August, 2013]
{{Lee Enterprises}}
[[Category:Newspapers published in Arizona]] [[Category:Maria Moors Cabot Prize winners]] [[Category:Mass media in Tucson, Arizona]] [[Category:Lee Enterprises publications]] [[Category:Daily newspapers published in the United States]] [[Category:Companies based in Tucson, Arizona]] [[Category:Newspapers established in 1877]] [[Category:1877 establishments in Arizona Territory]]