Celebrating 90 Years of Service to the Virgin Islands 1930 2020 ING T RV H E E S SINC E

Celebrating 90 years of service to the Virgin Islands 1930 2020 ING T RV H E E S SINC E

S I 5=74 D R G N I N I S L A A Pulitzer Prize-Winning Newspaper ST. CROIX ST. JOHN ST. THOMAS TORTOLA 2 The Virgin Islands Daily News 1930-2020 | 90 YEARS OF SERVICE Saturday, August 1, 2020 90 Years of Daily News History On Aug. 1, 1930, two civic-minded friends, achievements and activities of Virgin Island- Ariel Melchior Sr. and J. Antonio Jarvis, ers far and wide. printed and hand-delivered 200 copies of Edi- tion No. 1 of their equivalent of the iconic V.I. horn-blower — a messenger of important in- How it began formation, a stimulator of V.I. commerce and a leader in informed discourse. After learning the printing business by The success of their bold venture is evident working as a typesetter at the St. Thomas in the existence of today’s newspaper — Edi- Mail Notes, Melchior Sr., applied to the only tion No. 23762 of The Virgin Islands Daily bank in St. Thomas for a loan to print V.I. News. For 90 years the newspaper has pre- tour guides to sell to travelers. He and Jar- vailed and excelled, winning so many nation- vis, a poet, artist and photographer hoped to al awards that it is often cited by journalism use profits from that venture to finance their schools and awards judges as “the best small dream of starting a newspaper. newspaper in America.” Melchior, who was 21 at the time, sat for Melchior eventually a week in the lobby of the National Bank of bought Jarvis’ share and the Danish West Indies in Charlotte Amalie developed the newspaper before loan officers would let him pitch his into the conscience of the idea. The bank finally gave him a $200 loan, Virgin Islands communi- but only after Melchior’s friend Adolph Ge- ty. He challenged the sta- reau agreed to surrender his savings book tus quo of Virgin Islands to the bank and only after the bank officers politics and government warned Melchior that he might sinking in his searing editorials money into a hopeless cause. They even sug- and news reports, which gested he would do better to go find work on from time to time led to J. Antonio Jarvis Copies of The Daily News roll off the press at the newspaper’s office on Back Street in the mainland. the removal of high-rank- Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas in 1988. Later that year, The Daily News would move to its Melchior took the money, ignored the ing government officials from public office – current location in Estate Thomas. warning and moved ahead. Adding a $350 a tradition that The Daily News has continued profit from the sales of the tour guide, a $400 to this day. the British Virgin Islands and development of challenges, and changes, Melchior’s indomi- loan from his brother, Gaston Benjamin, and Much has changed over the years, but an online edition. table spirit remains. The Daily News continues a line of credit from a friend, Melchior raised much remains the same. The Daily News’ Throughout all the advancements, triumphs, to hold the Virgin Islands government account- enough to buy a used printing press he found use of technology has grown by leaps and able, shines a light on corruption and mis- in Puerto Rico. On Aug. 1, 1930, he and Jar- bounds and so has its readership, particu- management and reports on the amazing larly with coverage of See HISTORY, page 5

Key points in 1930: Ariel 1940: Melchior 1960: The Daily 1961: The St. 1978: Melchior 1988: The Daily 1995: The Daily 1997: Gannett Melchior Sr. and buys out Jarvis’ News opens its Thomas office sells The News’ offices and News wins the sells the the history of J. Antonio Jarvis share in the St. Croix bureau. moves from Daily News to press move from Pulitzer Prize for newspaper to The Daily News publish the first newspaper Main Street to Gannett Co., a Back Street into Public Service St. Croix-based edition of The business and Back Street. national media a new office and for its 10-part Innovative Daily News of becomes sole conglomerate. printing plant in series “V.I. Crime: Communication the Virgin Islands owner, publisher Estate Thomas. Who’s to Blame.” Corp. from their office and editor. in The Art Shop on Main Street, St. Thomas. Saturday, August 1, 2020 1930-2020 | 90 YEARS OF SERVICE The Virgin Islands Daily News 3

The story of the

That fancy “The” in our name on the front page every day first appeared on the first edition of this newspaper 90 years ago today. It was used for many years then replaced for a while by what was deemed a “modern” style. We resumed using that special “The” when we celebrated our 75 anniversary because it was a fitting tribute to our history and because it is a beautiful, unique piece of original Virgin Islands artwork. The Daily News moved to its present office in Estate Thomas, above, from Back Street, below, in 1988. Back in 1930, for something like that to go on a printed page, it had to be drawn by hand, then carefully hand-carved into a wood block. The block then became the mold for casting the word in metal, making it one of the thousands of pieces of metal words and alphabet letters that printers put together, much like combining scrabble tiles. In those old days of what was called “hot type,” the printers’ fingers flew like hummingbird wings over the trays holding the type, picking up and assembling the letters into words, sentences, stories and headlines to fill the pages. In addition to the special The, the words “DAILY NEWS” on our front page nameplate also look much the way they did in our first edition. They are in the same font — the printer’s term for a style of lettering — and are all capital letters, as they were then. In the early decades, the letters in our name were far- ther apart than they are now. In the 1950s, the printers moved the letters closer to make room for a new addition: Senior a circle between the words Daily and News. At first the citizens from circle was a globe on which the U.S. Virgin Islands were Tutu, above, the only land masses. It is a visual suggestion that the Vir- and children The gin Islands are the world that this newspaper covers. from Antilles interior The circle has changed several times over the years, School, be- of the and now, as you can see on the front page, the words low, tour the paper’s in the circle are: Serving the Virgin Islands since 1930. Daily News new Under name on the front page every day is statement office on Estate we were able to print for the first time on April 19, Back Street. Thomas 1995: “A Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper.” office Every newspaper that has won a Pulitzer Prize after its proudly makes that statement somewhere in its name- opening plate, masthead or other identifying content. The Vir- in 1988. gin Islands Daily News is proud to be among those elite publications. — J. Lowe Davis

2001: Launch of 2002: The Daily 2008: Times- 2009: The Daily 2013: The Daily 2014: Virgin 2016: The St. 2017: Two 2020: The Daily The Daily News’ News debuts Shamrock News’ launches News wins the Islands-based Croix office of The Category 5 News marks Best of the Virgin www.virginislands- Communications its daily e-edition, inaugural First businessman Daily News moves hurricanes, 90 years of Islands magazine dailynews.com. of Scranton, the online Amendment Award Archie Nahigian from Gallows Bay Irma and Maria, continuous and annual Pa., buys The duplicate of the from the national buys The Daily to larger quarters hit the Virgin publishing. readers’ poll. Daily News print edition. Associated Press News from on Strand Street, Islands. The Daily as part of the Media Editors Times-Shamrock Christiansted. News continues breakup of ICC. organization for Communications, publishing despite reports on the returning the For an entire the challenges of V.I. Legislature’s company to local year, The Daily lengthy curfews, a spending and lack ownership. News publishes WAPA shutdown, of transparency. Centennial and territory- Countdown. wide damage. 4 The Virgin Islands Daily News 1930-2020 | 90 YEARS OF SERVICE Saturday, August 1, 2020

HISTORY Ownership changes CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 Over the years, Gannett found the cost of vis proudly launched The Daily News of the doing business in the Virgin Islands to be Virgin Islands. higher than its stockholders would tolerate, In the decades that followed, Melchior and it began looking for a buyer. proved the naysayers wrong and not only In December 1997, Gannett transferred thrived but also gained a reputation as the ownership of The Virgin Islands Daily News “must read” source of news and opinion as to Innovative Communications Corp., which he crusaded for progress in the territory and was owned by St. Croix businessman Jeffery waged epic battles with the sprawling Virgin Prosser. ICC also owned the telephone com- Islands government. pany and a number of other communications- related companies in the territory and else- where in the Caribbean. Big changes Over the next decade, The Daily News steadily expanded to cover the British Virgin After 48 years at the helm, Melchior Sr. Islands and to add its existing news and ad- was ready to retire from the grind of produc- vertising offices on St. Croix and St. John. ing a daily paper. He looked for an organiza- The production division expanded and up- tion with the resources to advance The Daily dated its commercial printing division, which News successes, and in 1978, he found that produces various publications and advertising in the Gannett, a media giant that owned 93 material for local businesses. newspapers, numerous television stations and Times-Shamrock Communications bought related media businesses. The Daily News in 2008 when ICC went into Gannett had a reputation for investing in bankruptcy and had to sell its assets, includ- local talent, and to further that goal, The Dai- ing the newspaper and the paper’s publishing ly News and the Gannett Foundation in 1981 Daily News staff members operations. Times-Shamrock, headquartered made a $100,000 grant to the College of the celebrate after learning that in Scranton, Pa., is a family-owned media Virgin Islands to establish a journalism pro- the newspaper had won the conglomeration of newspapers and broad- gram. A number of the graduates of that pro- Pulitzer Prize for public service casting companies across the nation. gram eventually worked for The Daily News for its series ‘V.I. Crime: Who’s Times-Shamrock invested in new technol- or branched out into related fields. to blame?’ At center, series ogy that in 2009 allowed The Daily News to In 1989, Gannett built a modern reporter Melvin Claxton, in beard begin producing an e-edition, an electronic 16,000-square-foot facility in Estate Thomas and jeans, hugs project editor page-by-page daily exact duplicate of the and moved the business office, newsroom J. Lowe Davis. At far left is Ariel print edition. and mammoth press from the old, cramped Melchior Jr., publisher and editor, Almost on a par the winning the Pulitzer, quarters on Back Street in downtown Char- and at far right is Ariel Melchior in 2013, The Daily News became the first lotte Amalia into the quarters — a feat ac- Ser., the newspaper’s co-founder. newspaper ever to win the First Amendment complished without missing even one day of Award, which had been created by the nation- publishing the paper. al Associated Press Media Editors organization to honor its former president Tom Curley. journalism categories. The win- The Daily News was chosen for the esteemed Pulitzer Prize ning newspaper receives a Gold award because of the paper’s relentless pur- medal. suit of information on the V.I. Legislature’s At 3:01 p.m. on April 18, 1995, a shout It was Gannett’s 40th Pulitzer and The Dai- justice system. spending and reports on the V.I. government’s rang out across The Daily News office: “We ly News’ first. Melchior Sr. arrived at The Daily News lack of transparency. won! We won!” The winning 10-part investigative series office minutes after his son, publisher Ar- Despite the successes, Times-Shamrock The announcement had just come across titled “V.I. Crime: Who’s to Blame?” ran in iel Melchior Jr., called and told him the found, just as Gannett did, that the cost and The Associated Press wire service that The December 1994. It identified links between news. Beaming with pride, “Senior,” as challenges of doing business in the Virgin Is- Virgin Islands Daily News had won the 1995 the territory’s crime problems and corruption he was affectionately known, proclaimed: lands were too high, and the executives put Pulitzer Prize for Public Service — the high- and incompetence in the V.I. Police Depart- “I have always felt that The Daily News is The Daily News on the market. The winning est honor in American journalism. ment and other segments of the V.I. criminal the greatest force for good that has been offer came from Archie Nahigian a lawyer, The Pulitzer is the industry’s most created in the Virgin Islands in this businessman and former newspaper publish- coveted award, and the public service century.” er, who lives on St. Thomas. category is the crown jewel of the 14 Saturday, August 1, 2020 OPINIONS The Virgin Islands Daily News 5

ing rv th e e S SINCE

V 1930 s i d rg n in Isla A Pulitzer Prize-Winning Newspaper

ST. CROIX ST. JOHN ST. THOMAS TORTOLA Founded Aug. 1, 1930, by J. Antonio Jarvis and Ariel Melchior Sr. Published by Daily News Publishing Co., Inc. Archie Nahigian, President Eunice Bedminster, Executive Editor Lisa Jamil, Advertising Director Onneka Challenger, Circulation Director Ken E. Ryan, Production Director J. Lowe Davis, Editor At Large Juanita Young, Controller

— E D I T O R I A L S — Appreciation The Community Pulse

August 1, 1938 August 1, 1970 Eight years ago when we sent out the first issue of this paper conditions For the past 40 years The Daily News has been a reflection of the were very bad in the Virgin Islands. The venture seemed doubtful to most hopes and aspirations of the islands’ people. This is a prime necessity of our friends and some of them cautioned us not to attempt what we had for any newspaper worthy of the name, but in a real and significant way long planned because it appeared that the time was not opportune. In the this close relationship between our readers and community goals has rashness of youth, not knowing all of this arduous task, the sacrifices, the enabled The Daily News to reproduce in its pages what has been best small compensation and the spiritual lynchings which we have suffered, we for the islands’ progress. set boldly about the business of publishing. We have managed to survive The trust which our readers have had in the judgment of The Daily eight years through sheer pertinacity. News publisher and staff has resulted in the most con- Many changes in the history of the Virgin Islands have structive of public opinion to be reflected in its col- taken place since that first day in August, 1930. We have umns. This has been the goal, and to a great extent, had the good fortune to chronicle and even foretell some the accomplishment of The Daily News for the past of them. Once familiar faces have passed from the scene four decades. of our activity, but new acquaintances have come to take We prize this opinion highly. Letters to the editor their places. In the field of business, we have seen many reflect, in an exceptionally accurate manner, the very doors closed and a host of new ones open. The very pulse of the islands’ communities. We pride ourselves complexion of the city has been altered by the passing in the knowledge that we have remained aware of this of the years. drive and alert to this community’s heartbeat. It is with deep appreciation for the kindness of our When the first four-page edition of The Daily News patrons and friends that we send out this anniversary appeared on the streets 40 years ago today, we stated edition; mindful of their tolerance and charity without as our goal the four-fold blueprint of keeping the pub- which our many shortcomings must have inundated lic informed; furthering the business interest of the whatever success we may claim. We are also mindful of Virgin Islands; expressing opinions on all topics of their cooperation, and support; and aid caused us to the moment; and serving as an inspiration to our hold on when it seemed that holding on was futile. We communities. are aware of the social responsibility of publishing a This plan we have followed with a high measure of newspaper, especially in a small community of this sort These editorials were penned success. But the success has not been ours alone, any where so much must be done to avoid hurting sensitive by our founder, Ariel Melchior Sr. more than the opinions have been ours alone. The feelings and to promote better relationships among vari- inspiration from these pages came yesterday as it ous groups that compose our society. If at times we do must come tomorrow, from the encouraging confi- not please everybody or we please only a minority, it is because the minor- dence of our readers and other community leaders in our goals. ities have the same rights that the majority defends. According to the travel brochures these tropical isles are made up pri- We will not venture to predict what the next year will be like and we marily of incomparable views, miles of sandy beaches, and the world’s dare not promise to do a given set of things. As we said in a previous arti- finest climate. Basically, however, the islands’ greatest assets are its cle, we are living under the shadow of a gigantic question mark. This much people. They are the Virgin Islands! we shall say without fear of successful contradiction: The Virgin Islands is As we pledge to maintain the standards of journalism tomorrow on the verge of great social changes, greater even than those that have which we have set yesterday, we dedicate this special Fortieth Edition to taken place during the last eight years; and those changes will be wrought our readers and advertisers, to those who have expressed their opinions by a realignment of the economic and social powers of the present day. candidly (and not always approvingly), to those who love these shores Those who are alert and ready to take advantage of the turn of events will as we love them — the people of the Virgin Islands. be rewarded by the greater profits possible while the growth is rapid. The Our Thank You is also our pledge to continue a forward march into indolent and the untrained will seek fruitlessly for a purely political solu- the future with confidence, vigilance and fearlessness. tion of their problems. 6 The Virgin Islands Daily News 1930-2020 | 90 YEARS OF SERVICE Saturday, August 1, 2020 Saturday, August 1, 2020 1930-2020 | 90 YEARS OF SERVICE The Virgin Islands Daily News 7 8 The Virgin Islands Daily News 1930-2020 | 90 YEARS OF SERVICE Saturday, August 1, 2020 Saturday, August 1, 2020 1930-2020 | 90 YEARS OF SERVICE The Virgin Islands Daily News 9 10 The Virgin Islands Daily News 1930-2020 | 90 YEARS OF SERVICE Saturday, August 1, 2020 Saturday, August 1, 2020 1930-2020 | 90 YEARS OF SERVICE The Virgin Islands Daily News 11 12 The Virgin Islands Daily News 1930-2020 | 90 YEARS OF SERVICE Saturday, August 1, 2020 The Daily News’ national awards The Virgin Islands Daily News is among the most-honored American newspapers for its journalism excellence. The Associated Press Media Editors Scripps Foundation Community national journalism awards earned by the newspaper and its staff over the years include: Public Service Award Journalism Award • 2014: For “EMS in Chaos.” • Finalist, 2014: For “EMS in Chaos,” a three-part • 2013: For “Our Money, Their Failures.” series that revealed poor management in the Emergency Pulitzer Prize Gold Medal • 2012: For exposing a fraudulent credit union and the Medical Service division on St. Thomas. lax oversight by V.I. government that led to creditors losing • Finalist, 2013: For “Our Money, Their Failures,” a their savings to a man with a criminal record and fake names. fast-tracked, unvetted government plan to create a $34 mil- for Public Service • 2009: For “Salaries First, lion public-private partnership. • 1995: For “V.I. Crime: Who’s To Patients Later,” an investigative Blame?”, a 10-part investigative report series into corruption at Schneider that probed the underlying causes of Regional Medical Center and the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award rampant failures and corruption in Kimelman Cancer Institute. the Virgin Islands criminal justice • 2008: For an analysis of the • 1997: For “Cheating Our Children.” system and led to major reforms V.I. Waste Management Author- in the territory. The Pulitzer Prize ity’s plan to levy a fee that would gold medal bears the words. “For the have had ruinous effects on Selden Ring Award most distinguished and meritorious individuals and businesses. public service rendered by any Ameri- • 2007: For probing coverage • Finalist, 1995: For “V.I. Crime, Who’s To Blame?” can newspaper during the year — 1995.” of corruption in the V.I. Police De- partment’s handling of the murder of two tourists. Society of Professional Journalists American Bar Association • 2003: For reports on a terri- torial government fiscal crisis and financial mismanagement. Sigma Delta Chi Award Silver Gavel Award • 1997: For “Cheating Our • 2004: For “Deadly Force.” • 2004: For “Deadly Force,” a detailed investigation of Children,” investigative report on • 2001: For “Vieques: In Whose the V.I. Police Department’s abusive use of deadly force. The problems in the educational system in the Virgin Islands. Defense?” about the U.S. Navy response project’s impact led to a U.S. Justice Department investiga- • 1995: For “V.I. Crime: Who’s To Blame?” to the occupation and surrounding protest tion and a consent decree still in effect. • Finalist, 2005: For “Contracts and Cronies.” and acts of civil disobedience at the naval • 1982: For “Problems in Paradise,” and investigative • Finalist, 2004: For “Deadly Force.” bombing range of Vieques, Puerto Rico. series on Virgin Islands government corruption. • Finalist, 2000: For “Who Fumbled the Season?”, a • 1995: For “V.I. Crime, Who’s To Blame?” report on political interference and education administra- tors’ incompetence connected to the launch of varsity tackle football in the territory. Associated Press Sports Editors • Finalist, 1996: For investigative reporting. • Finalist, 1985: For investigative reporting. Award for Enterprise Reporting Investigative Reporters • 2000: For “Who Fumbled the Season.” and Editors Award American Society of Newspaper • 2009: For “Salaries First, Patients Later.” Editors Jesse Laventhol Prize Associated Press Media Editors • 1995: For “V.I. Crime: Who’s To Blame?” • 1981: For “Problems in Paradise.” • Finalist, 2001: For “Vieques: In Whose Defense?” • Finalist, 2008: For “Diploma Mill,” a series of stories Tom Curley First Amendment that revealed the Virgin Islands government was working with and enabling a diploma mill to target V.I. teachers. National Headliners Award Sweepstakes Award • Finalist, 2004: For “Deadly Force.” • 2013: For an intense, victorious court battle and related • 2001: For “Vieques: In Whose Defense?” investigative reports that forced the Virgin Islands Legislature • 1997: For “Cheating Our Children.” to stop hiding records that illustrated years of mismanage- Scripps Foundation • 1995: For “V.I. Crime, Who’s To Blame?” ment of public funds and “living large” by senators. Roy Howard Award Al Nakkula Award for Crime Reporting Associated Press Media Editors • 1995: For “V.I. Crime: Who’s To Blame?” • Finalist, 2005: For “Crime School,” a series of reports • 1995: For “V.I. Crime, Who’s To Blame?” that detailed fatal safety and security violations and other Freedom of Information Award deficiencies at the Virgin Islands Youth Rehabilitation Center. • 2013: For championing the call for the V.I. Legislature • Finalist, 2004: For “Deadly Force.” American Planning Association to be transparent and accountable for its spending of public funds. Public Service Journalism Award • Finalist, 2003: For an ongoing public records and Scripps Foundation Ursula public meeting access battle with the V.I. Legislature. • 1995: For reports on Virgin Islands failures to produce and Gilbert Farfel Prize an effective Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plan Associated Press Media • Finalist, 2005: For “Contracts and Cronies,” a months-long investigation into a bogus company into which Benjamin Fine Education government officials funneled millions of dollars and helped Editors President’s Award lead to the criminal conviction of the Department of Planning • 2013: To Executive Editor J. Lowe Davis for “Career and Natural Resources commissioner and the Property and Reporting Award Excellence.” Procurement commissioner. • 1998: “Cheating Our Children.”