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Copley Press was a privately held newspaper business, founded in Illinois but later based in La Jolla, California.[1] The company operated in California, Illinois and Ohio. Its flagship paper was The San Diego Union-Tribune.

History

Origins

Col. Ira Clifton Copley was a successful politician and industrialist who operated an electric and gas company in Illinois in the early 1900s. He used his accumulated wealth to purchase local papers. Copley bought the Aurora Beacon in December 1905,[2] then sued its rival, the Aurora News, for libel in April 1909, seeking $250,000 in damages.[3] Copley acquired the Elgin Courier in August 1911,[4] the News in December 1911,[5] and then a month later merged it with the Beacon to form the Aurora Beacon-News.[6] In August 1913, Copley acquired a stake in the Joliet Daily Herald and Joliet Daily News,[7] and in April 1915, merged the two to form The Herald-News.[8][9]

In December 1925, Copley purchased the Elgin Daily News,[10] and then merged it with the Courier to form the Elgin Courier-News.[11] In January 1926, Copley sold his holdings in the Western Electric Gas and Electric company and its affiliated businesses,[12] the sale price $30 million,[13] and soon went on a newspaper spending spree. He bought the Illinois State Journal in January 1928,[14] the San Diego Union and its evening Tribune edition, also in January 1928,[13] followed by 15 newspapers in Southern California from Kellogg Newspapers in February 1928.[15] Later that year, Senator George W. Norris accused Copley Press of receiving money from public utility companies,[16] but Copley successfully defended his position before the Federal Trade Commission in 1929.[17] The Santa Monica Evening Outlook was sold off in exchange for full ownership of the Glendale News-Press in 1932.[18]

Expansion

Copley ran his newspaper chain until 1942, when he retired and was succeeded by Audus W. Shipton.[19] That same year, Copley Press leased the Illinois State Register.[20] In 1944, the company opened a news bureau in Washington, D.C. for its 17 newspapers across Illinois and California.[21] In 1947, company founder Ira Clifton Copley died at age 83.[22] In 1950, the Burbank Daily Review was acquired.[23] In 1953, the company expanded into television by acquiring KLAC-TV in Los Angles.[24] In July 1955, William C. Copley sued his adoptive brother James S. Copley for control of the company and to liquidate it.[25]

In September 1955, the Copley News Service, a wire service that distributed news, political cartoons, and opinion columns, was formed.[26] In July 1957, James S. Copley reached a settlement with his brother and bought him out, thus gaining full control of Copley Press. At that time the company owned 16 newspapers with a total circulation of 426,404.[27][28] In December 1957, KLAC-TV was sold off for $4 million to a group head by singer Bing Crosby.[29] In 1961, Shipton retired as president after spending 45 years working at the company.[30] James S. Copley was then elected as his replacement,[31] and Shipton died three years later.[32]

In 1966, Copley acquired The Sacramento Union for $2.64 million.[33] In 1969, Copley sold the Venice Vanguard and two other papers to Edwin W. Dean Jr., publisher of the Inglewood Daily News.[34][35] In 1971 the Daily Journal (Wheaton, Illinois) was acquired.[36] In October 1973, James S. Copley died at age 57of cancer,[37] and then his widow Helen K. Copley succeeded him as company chairman.[38] In May 1974, the Illinois State Journal and Illinois State Register were merged for form The State Journal-Register.[39] That same month, the Glendale News-Press, Burbank Review and 11 other Los Angeles area papers (four dallies, nine weeklies) were sold to Morris Communications.[40] Two dallies and two weeklies from the group closed over several months following the sale.[41] In December 1974, The Sacramento Union was sold off.[42]

In 1982, James S. Copley was posthumously inducted into the California Newspaper Hall of Fame.[43] In 1983, the Lake County News-Sun was acquired.[44] In 1985, the Lincoln Courier was acquired.[45] In 1991, Copley acquired The Naperville Sun, and four other newspapers from Harold White.[46] In 1992, Copley’s two San Diego papers were merged to form The San Diego Union-Tribune.[47] In 1996, the Peoria Journal-Star and Galesburg Register-Mail were acquired for $174.4 million.[48] In 2000, Copley expanded into Ohio after buying the Canton Repository from Thomson Corp.[49] Later that year The Times-Reporter of Dover, Ohio and the Massillon Independent were acquired.[50]

Dissolution

In June 2000, Copley expanded into Ohio after buying the Canton Repository from Thomson Corp.[49] In October 2000, Copley sold its four Chicago-area dallies (The Herald News, The Beacon News, Elgin Courier-News and The News Sun) to Hollinger International.[51] In December 2000, The Times-Reporter of Dover, Ohio and the Massillon Independent were acquired.[50] In April 2001, Helen K. Copley stepped down as chairman and was replaced by her son, David C. Copley.[52] In August 2004, she died at age 81.[53]

In December 2006, the Daily Breeze was sold to Hearst in a complex transaction that in the end left the paper to MediaNews Group.[54] In March 2007, GateHouse Media acquired the company’s remaining nine Midwest papers for $380 million. The sale included Galesburg Register-Mail, Lincoln Courier, Peoria Journal Star and The State Journal-Register in Illinois, along with the Canton Repository, The Times-Reporter and Massillon Independent in Ohio.[55]

In May 2008, Creators Syndicate acquired the Copley News Service. Afterward, it was renamed to the Creators News Service and no longer distributed original news content, only syndicated copy.[56] In March 2009, The San Diego Union-Tribune was sold to Platinum Equity.[57] In November 2012, David C. Copley died at age 60.[58]

Allegations of collaboration with CIA and FBI

In 1977, an article published in Penthouse (magazine) claimed Copley Press was used as a front by the Central Intelligence Agency. Reporters Joe Trento and Dave Roman wrote that James S. Copley, who served as publisher until 1973, had cooperated with the CIA since its founding in 1947. They also reported that a subsidiary division, Copley News Service, was used in Latin America by the CIA as a front. Trento and Roman also said that reporters at the Copley-owned San Diego Union and Evening News spied on antiwar protesters for the FBI. They alleged that, at the height of these operations, at least two dozen Copley employees were simultaneously working for the CIA. James S. Copley was also accused of involvement in the CIA-funded Inter-American Press Association. The company denied these allegations.[59][60][61][62]

Company president/chairman

Former properties

List of previously owned newspapers
Name Location
Alhambra Post-Advocate Alhambra, California
Aurora Beacon-News Aurora, Illinois
Burbank Daily Review Burbank, California
Daily Breeze Hermosa Beach, California
Daily Journal (Wheaton, Illinois) Wheaton, Illinois
Elgin Courier-News Elgin, Illinois
Galesburg Register-Mail Galesburg, Illinois
Glendale News-Press Glendale, California
Lake County News-Sun Gurnee, Illinois
Lincoln Courier Lincoln, Illinois
Massillon Independent Massillon, Ohio
Naperville Sun Naperville, Illinois
Peoria Journal Star Peoria, Illinois
San Pedro News-Pilot San Pedro, California
The Herald-News Joliet, Illinois
The Repository Canton, Ohio
The Sacramento Union Sacramento, California
The San Diego Union-Tribune San Diego, California
The Santa Monica Evening Outlook Santa Monica, California
The State Journal-Register Springfield, Illinois
The Times-Reporter New Philadelphia, Ohio
Venice Evening Vanguard Venice, California

Other properties

References

  1. ^ “The Copley Press, Inc.: Private Company Information – Businessweek”. investing.businessweek.com. Archived from the original on June 4, 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  2. ^ “Aurora Beacon Sold”. The Daily Leader. Pontiac, Illinois. December 9, 1905. p. 1.
  3. ^ “Aurora Newspaper Row | Beacon Starts Libel Suits Against the News on Six Charges for $250,000”. Rockford Register Star. April 22, 1909. p. 1.
  4. ^ “Elgin Paper Sold”. Beloit Daily News. August 4, 1909. p. 8.
  5. ^ “Aurora News Is Bought By Copley”. The Times. Streator, Illinois. December 28, 1911. p. 4.
  6. ^ “Aurora Now Only Has One Daily Newspaper”. Belvidere Daily Republican. January 12, 1912. p. 7.
  7. ^ “Owns All Buy One Newspaper”. The Herald. Crystal Lake, Illinois. August 21, 1913. p. 1.
  8. ^ “Joliet News Closes Up Today After Many Years”. The Daily Chronicle. De Kalb, Illinois. United Press. April 30, 1915. p. 5.
  9. ^ “Had Too Many Newspapers”. The Pantagraph. Bloomington, Illinois. May 1, 1915. p. 3.
  10. ^ “Elgin News Thought Sold”. The Daily Independent. Murphysboro, Illinois. December 21, 1925. p. 1.
  11. ^ “Elgin Papers Are Combined”. Daily Review Atlas. Monmouth, Illinois. Associated Press. December 31, 1925. p. 1.
  12. ^ “Copley Sells Utilities”. The Morning Star. Rockford, Illinois. August 5, 1926. p. 2.
  13. ^ a b “Two San Diego Newspapers Are Sold To Copley”. Los Angeles Evening Express. January 20, 1928. p. 4.
  14. ^ “Illinois State Journal Sold To Ira C. Copley; Assumes Charge Today”. The State Journal-Register. Springfield, Illinois. January 1, 1928. p. 1.
  15. ^ “F.W. Kellogg Newspapers Are Sold”. The Daily Breeze. Torrance, California. February 15, 1928. p. 1.
  16. ^ “Copley Press Defended In Utility Quiz”. San Francisco Chronicle. Associated Press. April 12, 1928. p. 9.
  17. ^ “Spaulding’s Retraction Is Complete | Commissioner Declares Ira Copley Did Not Plan Anything Unlawful”. The Pasadena Post. April 12, 1928. p. 1.
  18. ^ “Santa Monica Outlook Sold by I.C. Copley”. Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California. April 1, 1932. p. 8.
  19. ^ “Publisher of 4 Papers in State Plans to Retire”. The Telegraph. Associated Press. May 1, 1942. p. 21.
  20. ^ “Copley Press Inc., To Publish Illinois State Register; Leasing Is Announced At Banquet Of City Business Leaders”. The State Journal-Register. Springfield, Illinois. May 2, 1942. p. 1.
  21. ^ Richards, Robert W. (July 9, 1944). “Copley Bureau | Chief Richards Writes Of Its Washington Locale”. Illinois State Register. Springfield, Illinois. p. 19.
  22. ^ “Death Ends Colorful Career of Col. Ira C. Copley”. News-Pilot. San Pedro, California. November 3, 1947. p. 7.
  23. ^ “California Chain Buys Out Burbank Daily Review”. The Los Angeles Times. May 6, 1950. p. 17.
  24. ^ “Copley Press Buys TV Station In Los Angeles”. The State Journal-Register. Springfield, Illinois. December 24, 1953. p. 5.
  25. ^ “Son Sues to Liquidate Copley Press Chain”. Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California. Associated Press. July 14, 1955. p. 39.
  26. ^ “Copley News Service Is Formed”. Illinois State Register. Springfield, Illinois. September 23, 1955. p. 5.
  27. ^ “Copley Seeks To Acquire Control Of Copley Press”. The Dispatch. Moline, Illinois. Associated Press. July 30, 1957. p. 2.
  28. ^ “Copley Press Suit Settled | Plan Expansion”. The Morning Star. Associated Press. July 31, 1957. p. 6.
  29. ^ “Copley Press Completes Sale Of TV Station”. Illinois State Register. Springfield, Illinois. December 23, 1957. p. 5.
  30. ^ “A.W. Shipton Will Retire”. Illinois State Register. Springfield, Illinois. October 8, 1961. p. 1.
  31. ^ “Copley Elected President Of Corporation”. Illinois State Register. Springfield, Illinois. December 13, 1961. p. 3.
  32. ^ “Former President Of Copley Press Dies”. The La Crosse Tribune. Associated Press. August 24, 1964. p. 13.
  33. ^ “Sacramento Newspaper Sold to Copley Chain”. The Los Angeles Times. March 12, 1966. p. 19.
  34. ^ “Copley announces | Three West Area newspapers sold”. Evening Vanguard. Venice, California. July 29, 1969. p. 1.
  35. ^ “3 Coast Dailies Sold By Copley”. Arizona Daily Star. Tucson, Arizona. Associated Press. July 31, 1969. p. 41.
  36. ^ “Copley Buys Wheaton Paper”. The Sacramento Union. February 6, 1973. p. 20.
  37. ^ “James S. Copley Dies at Age 57”. The Sacramento Union. October 7, 1973. p. 1.
  38. ^ “Newspaper corporation | Mrs. J.S. Copley succeeds husband as chairman”. The Daily Breeze. Torrance, California. October 12, 1973. p. 3.
  39. ^ “Journal and Register to become one newspaper”. Illinois State Register. Springfield, Illinois. May 31, 1974. p. 1.
  40. ^ “Copley Sells 13 Southland papers”. The Daily Breeze. Torrance, California. May 31, 1974. p. 3.
  41. ^ Jones, John A. (December 1974). “Newspapers Close in Alhambra, Monrovia”. The Los Angeles Times. p. 74.
  42. ^ “New Publisher in Town | McGoff Pledges Service”. The Sacramento Union. December 14, 1974. p. 1.
  43. ^ “James S. Copley in the Hall of Fame”. The Daily Breeze. Torrance, California. Associated Press. December 4, 1982. p. 3.
  44. ^ “Copley buys Waukegan News-Sun”. The State Journal-Register. Springfield, Illinois. September 7, 1983. p. 15.
  45. ^ “Copley News buys Lincoln Courier”. The Taylorville Daily Breeze Courier. Taylorville, Illinois. Associated Press. December 21, 1985. p. 16.
  46. ^ Schmeltzer, John (January 24, 1991). “Copley Newspapers agrees to purchase Naperville Sun group”. Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. p. 3–4. Retrieved June 6, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  47. ^ Cass, Connie (February 2, 1992). “San Diego becomes largest U.S. city with only one paper”. San Francisco Chronicle. Associated Press. p. 21.
  48. ^ “Register-Mail joins Copley”. The Register-Mail. Galesburg, Illinois. July 11, 1996. p. 1.
  49. ^ a b “Copley Press buys Canton, Ohio, paper”. The State Journal-Register. Springfield, Illinois. June 14, 2000. p. 31.
  50. ^ a b “Copley Ohio buying two newspapers”. The State Journal-Register. Springfield, Illinois. December 22, 2000. p. 33.
  51. ^ “Copley Press Inc. sells its Chicago-area newspapers”. The State Journal-Register. Springfield, Illinois. p. 15.
  52. ^ “Helen K. Copley steps down as chairman, publisher; her son set to succeed her”. Turlock Journal. Associated Press. April 27, 2001. p. 3.
  53. ^ “Copley Press Inc.’s chairman emeritus dies”. The State Journal-Register. Springfield, Illinois. August 27, 2004. p. 1.
  54. ^ Adelman, Jacob (December 16, 2006). “Hearst buys paper, won’t own it for long”. Santa Maria Times. Associated Press. p. 12.
  55. ^ “Gatehouse Media buys 9 papers from Copley Press”. Chicago Tribune. March 14, 2007. pp. 3–2.
  56. ^ Hays, Jim (May 29, 2008). “Creators Syndicate buys Copley News Service”. The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. Associated Press. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  57. ^ Kupper, Thomas (March 18, 2009). “Union-Tribune Sold to Platinum Equity”. The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  58. ^ Rushton, Bruce (December 27, 2012). “End of a newspaper Era”. Illinois Times. Springfield, Illinois. p. 8.
  59. ^ Lardner Jr., George (1977-07-09). “Copley News Accused of Old Links to CIA”. The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  60. ^ “Article Links News Chain to”. The New York Times. United Press International. 1977-07-09. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  61. ^ Trento, Joseph John (2001). The Secret History of the CIA. Internet Archive. Roseville, Calif. : Prima. ISBN 978-0-7615-2562-2.
  62. ^ Trento, Joseph John (2005-04-29). Prelude to Terror —The Rogue CIA and the Legacy of America’s Private Intelligence Network. Internet Archive. Carroll & Graf. ISBN 978-0-7867-1464-3.