Location: Walnut Street in Goldsboro
County: Wayne
Original Date Cast: 1973
An article appeared on May 15, 1873, in the Wilmington Morning Star, reporting that the previous day, “a convention of gentlemen conducting or representing newspapers published in the State assembled at the courthouse (in Goldsboro) …for the purpose of forming an association for mutual benefit and protection.” Major J. A. Englehard of the Wilmington Journal, who had proposed the idea of such an organization, was elected president. The group immediately resolved to make the association a permanent one. Aside from the benefits of opening lines of communication in the profession, the representatives of the convention hoped to institute regulations on advertising, appointing a special committee to investigate the various aspects of that business. The abundant patent medicine companies and assorted other Victorian era quacks were of particular interest to the newspaper professionals, because while some editors refused to run advertisements for products produced by such questionable outfits, others gave their representatives discounted rates.
The organization adopted the name North Carolina Press Association. More than just a professional union, the North Carolina Press Association served as a fraternal society, as well. During their first convention, the members were invited by the Atlantic Railroad to travel to Morehead City and Beaufort, where they were entertained at the Ocean House. Over the years the Press Association has effectively offered support to issues such as the good roads movement, improving public education, and strengthening local government.
References:
Thad Stem, The Tar Heel Press (1973)
Durham Sun, May 3, 1973
Wilmington Morning Star, May 15, 1873
North Carolina Press Association website: http://www.ncpress.com