Summary
The Mears Newz (earlier known as The Mears News) was a twentieth-century newspaper published in Mears, Michigan.
History edit
The Mears News[A] made its debut July 24, 1914. The Mears Newz was published by Swift Lathers, its founder and editor. Lathers worked as a stringer for a Detroit newspaper, he moved to Mears in 1909, and started The Mears News and reported on events in Mears. Lathers worked as reporter, writer, editor, printed the newspapers on a foot-operated printing press, and would hand deliver the newspapers locally.[1]
The newspaper was self-proclaimed as The Smallest Newspaper in the World.[1][2][3][4] It was published on a paper that was smaller than the normal size bond.[3] Its size was approximately that of a postcard at about five by seven inches and consisted of four pages.[2] The weekly newspaper was published every Friday from 1914 to 1970.[3] Lathers had paid subscribers in 38 states.[2] Sometime after 1916 and before 1919 the News name was changed to Newz on the suggestion from a subscriber.[1]
The Mears Newz during the 1940s had a worldwide circulation of over 2000.[1][5] Lathers had a circulation at one time of over 2,700 when he voluntarily cut the list to keep subscription circulation manageable. Those whose name started before D and all those after S no longer received his newspaper."[6]
The subscription cost for the newspaper was 50 cents per year and 1 dollar for a six-month subscription. When a local businessman told Lathers that his publication would not last six months and offered him 25 cents Lathers set his subscription fee at 50 cents a year, 1 dollar for six months and 2 dollars for 3 months. The newspaper was in production for 56 years and the subscription cost never changed.[1]
-
page 1 -
page 2 -
page 3 -
page 4
The Mears Newz August 18, 1922:
-
page 1 -
page 2 -
page 3 -
page 4
The Mears News next to a standard United States Post Office issued postcard.
-
page 1 with USPS postcard -
pages 2 & 3 with postcard -
USPS postcard over pg 2 -
page 4 with USPS postcard
See also edit
- Swift Lathers
References edit
Notes edit
- ^ Original spelling of the newspaper's name.
Citations edit
- ^ a b c d e "Centennial Celebration". Oceana's Herald-Journal. Jim Young: 3–16. July 17, 2014.
- ^ a b c Hoogterp 2006, p. 350.
- ^ a b c Scott 2005, p. 125.
- ^ "Lathers Family Offers Home For Historical Museum". Newspapers.com. Ludington Daily News. April 17, 1971. p. 7. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ^ "Pleasant Afternoon celebrates 100 years of Mears Newz". oceanacountypress.com. Oceana County Press. August 18, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ^ Yakes, Daniel J (March 19, 1986). "Swift Lathers". Muskegon Chronicle. Muskegon, Michigan.
Sources edit
External links edit
- Curious little newspaper calling itself "The Smallest Newspaper in the World"