Thesis-1974D-C324v.Pdf
© 1975 @ 1975 @ 1975 i ';; L'' ,,- , - :.._; ; ·;' - "'.,..,.._ ~.,.' -- '.. ,-,, --. ~ ·-.;,; _,,,, ,,,,_,_. '-·Ll.i'-- ~ .i'-..\•~-';,; R.FS FR. VtD VOlCES FROM THE SHORT GRASS COUNTRY: A HISTORY OF LAWTON NEWSPAPERS, 1901-1970 By L. EDWARD CARTER 7 Bachelor of Arts University of Oklahoma Norman, Oklahoma 1952 Bachelor of Arts University of Oklahoma Norman, Oklahoma 1953 Master of Science Oklahoma. State University Stillwater, Oklahoma 1970 Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate College of the Oklahoma State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY May, 197/,i, VOICES FROM THE SHORT GRASS COUNTRY: A HISTORY OF LAWTON NEWSPAPERS, 1901-1970 Thesis Approved: Thesis Advis Dean of the Graduate College ii OKLA.HON-A STATE UNIVERSITY UBRARY MAY 6 1975 PREFACE When frontier towns were established in Oklahoma during the various land openings, newspapers invariably were on the scene recording the news. These newspapers were typical of the press in the American West. Their editors were tireless boosters for their communities. They were constantly involved in personal journalistic battles with fellow news- mena These pioneer newspapermen established their papers as political organs, with hopes of winning the city and county printing contracts from the politicians in power. And the editors reflected their parti- sanship in the news columns and editorial pages. Gradually this stage of newspaper boosterism and political partisanship evolved into a one- man monopoly newspaper situation of unbiased news coverage relying on advertising for revenue. This process is evident in microcosm in towns within the Territory, and later the State of Oklahoma. In particular, this case study will show how this pattern worked in the town of Lawton, Oklahomae No important investigation ever has been made of daily newspaper operatio~s in Oklahoma, and little has been done on small town journalism anywhere.
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