Observer-Dispatch
{{Short description|Newspaper in Utica, New York}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox newspaper
| name = Observer-Dispatch
| logo = Observer-Dispatch masthead.svg
| logo_size = 220px
| image = Utica_Observer-Dispatch_building,_Utica_New_York.jpg
| caption = Former Observer-Dispatch building, vacant since 2022
| type = Daily newspaper
| format = Broadsheet
| owners = Gannett
| publisher =
| editor =
| foundation = 1817, as Utica Observer
| ceased publication =
| headquarters = 221 Oriskany Plaza, Utica, New York, United States
| circulation = 17,123 Daily
21,444 Sunday
| circulation_date = 2018
| sister newspapers = The Times Telegram
| ISSN = 0890-0329
| oclc = 10886202
| website = {{URL|uticaod.com}}
}}
The Observer-Dispatch (The O-D) is a newspaper serving the Utica-Rome metropolitan area in Central New York, circulating in Oneida County, Herkimer County, and parts of Madison County. Based in Utica, New York, the publication is owned by Gannett.
History
Eliasaph Dorchester founded the weekly Utica Observer in 1817. The paper briefly moved to Rome, New York and published under the name of the Oneida Observer, but returned to Utica after. The paper consolidated with the Utica Democrat in 1852, bringing with it long-time editor Dewitt C. Grove, who simultaneously served as mayor of Utica from 1860 to 1862. The Observer's facilities were destroyed in 1884 by a fire.{{Cite book |last=Wager |first=Daniel E. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/317926894 |title=Our county and its people: a descriptive work on Oneida County, New York |date=1896 |publisher=Higginson Book Company |location=Salem, Mass. |language=English |oclc=317926894|pages=355–356}} Construction began in 1914 on a new office for the Observer, which was completed in 1915.{{Cite book |last=Nelson |first=Greene |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qOApAQAAMAAJ&dq=observer-dispatch&pg=PA262 |title=History of the Mohawk Valley : gateway to the West, 1614-1925, covering the six counties of Schenectady, Schoharie, Montgomery, Fulton, Herkimer and Oneida |date=1925 |publisher=S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. |oclc=866075217|volume=3|pages=261–262}} The two-story building was expanded to three stories in 1930, with the name "Utica Observer-Dispatch" engraved in the stone above the third story windows.{{Cite news |last=Harris |first=Edward |date=2022-03-04 |title=O-D building in downtown Utica sold to The Mohawk Observer, LLC |work=Observer-Dispatch |url=https://www.uticaod.com/story/news/2022/03/04/observer-dispatch-building-sold-utica-company/9329644002/ |access-date=2022-03-07}}
In 1922 the paper was purchased by Frank E. Gannett, founder of the Gannett Company. Gannett purchased the Herald-Dispatch at the same time and combined the two, creating the Utica Observer-Dispatch. Gannet also purchased the Utica Daily Press in 1935. The Utica Daily Press and the Utica Observer-Dispatch merged in 1987, and were renamed to the current Observer-Dispatch.{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/57506556 |title=The encyclopedia of New York State |date=2005 |publisher=Syracuse University Press |others=Peter R. Eisenstadt, Laura-Eve Moss |isbn=0-8156-0808-X |edition=1 |location=Syracuse, N.Y. |oclc=57506556|chapter=Utica Observer-Dispatch|page=1629}} Gannett owned the newspaper until 2007, when it was purchased by GateHouse Media.{{Cite news |last=Gamela |first=Renée |date=2007-04-13 |title=Utica-based newspaper sold after 85 years with Gannett |work=Observer-Dispatch}} GateHouse Media's parent company merged with Gannett in 2019, returning the Observer-Dispatch to Gannett once more.{{Cite news |last=Tracy |first=Marc |date=2019-11-19 |title=Gannett, Now Largest U.S. Newspaper Chain, Targets 'Inefficiencies' |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/19/business/media/gannett-gatehouse-merger.html |access-date=2022-03-02 |issn=0362-4331}}
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the O-D had a weekly Bosnian language column serving the Bosnian American population in Utica.{{Cite book |editor-last=Frazier |editor-first=John W. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/793202791 |title=Multicultural geographies : the changing racial/ethnic patterns of the United States |date=2010 |publisher=State University of New York Press |others=Florence M. Margai, John W. Frazier |isbn=978-1-4384-3683-8 |location=Albany, N.Y. |oclc=793202791|page=145|chapter=Refugee resettlement in Utica, New York: Opportunities and Issues for Community Development|first1=Ellen|last1=Percy Kraly|first2=Kristin|last2=VanValkenburg}}{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/62235542 |title=Race and ethnic relations, 05/06 |date=2005 |publisher=McGraw-Hill/Dushkin |others=John A. Kromkowski |isbn=0-07-305378-3 |location=Dubuque, Iowa |oclc=62235542|page=3}}
The company added digital delivery of news and information in January 2000 with the launch of uticaOD.com. It began online video publication in 2006.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}
In 2004, the Observer-Dispatch purchased the Mid York Weekly newspaper, serving Hamilton, New York, and seven weekly Pennysaver publications, which are mailed throughout Oneida and Herkimer counties.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}
In January 2022, the paper announced it would cease printing its Saturday edition starting March.{{Cite web |last= |title=Observer-Dispatch to cease Saturday print publication, expand digital access |url=https://www.uticaod.com/story/news/2022/01/12/observer-dispatch-cease-saturday-print-paper-expand-digital-access/9187449002/ |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=Utica Observer Dispatch |language=en-US|date=2022-01-12}} In March, the Observer-Dispatch building was purchased by a real estate investment group.{{Cite web |title=Downstate investment group new owner of former Utica OD building |url=https://www.wktv.com/news/local/downstate-investment-group-new-owner-of-former-utica-od-building/article_91d9ba9a-9c05-11ec-a020-6b2f105b205e.html |access-date=2022-03-07 |website=WKTV NewsChannel2 |language=en|date=2022-03-04}}
In September 2023, the paper announced it will switch from carrier to postal delivery via U.S. Postal Service starting Oct. 23.{{Cite web |title=Observer-Dispatch transitioning to postal delivery |url=https://www.uticaod.com/story/news/2023/09/19/observer-dispatch-transitioning-to-postal-delivery/70864499007/ |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=Utica Observer Dispatch |language=en-US}}
Awards
The Utica Daily Press and the Utica Observer-Dispatch were jointly awarded the 1959 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service:{{Cite web |title=1959 Pulitzer Prize Winners & Finalists |url=https://www.pulitzer.org/prize-winners-by-year/1959 |access-date=2022-03-07 |website=www.pulitzer.org |language=en}}
{{blockquote|For their successful campaign against corruption, gambling and vice in their home city and the achievement of sweeping civic reforms in the face of political pressure and threats of violence.}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.uticaod.com Observer-Dispatch | uticaOD.com]
{{City of Utica, New York}}
{{PulitzerPrize PublicService 1951–1975}}
{{Gannett}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Daily newspapers published in New York (state)
Category:Pulitzer Prize–winning newspapers
Category:Publications established in 1817
Category:1817 establishments in New York (state)