One hundred years ago, Walter L. Webb, beet farmer and part-time editor of the Lehi Banner, invited newspapermen from throughout the Territory of Utah to dinner. Eleven editors and publishers accepted Webb's invitation and took a couple of days off before Christmas to make the journey to Lehi.
Friday, several dozen Utah newspapermen and women took a couple of hours off and took the same journey to commemorate the dinner Webb sponsored a century ago. At a luncheon held a few blocks from where Webb hosted his dinner guests, members of the Utah Press Association presented the city of Lehi with a plaque honoring what came out of Webb's dinner - their organization."With the placement of this plaque, today's newspapermen and women applaud the action taken here by visionary journalists a century ago and express pride in the organization created by their pioneering meeting," the plaque says.
On Dec. 17, 1893, following dinner at the Union Hotel, Webb's 11 guests discussed organizing a press association. At that time, the state's few newspapers struggled to pay operating expenses and most had little knowledge of the dissemination of news. Most news copy was opinion and depicted the political views of the publishers.
By working together, Webb felt the newspapermen could improve the territory's journalism and stress ethical writing. He believed the organization could better gather information, develop news sources and share information with those who knew little about gathering and printing news.
About a week after Webb's dinner, on Christmas Day, the same men met at the Knutsford Hotel in Salt Lake City and officially organized the Utah Press Association. On Jan. 24, 1894, the group held its first convention at the same hotel. Now celebrating its centennial birthday, the organization is Utah's oldest trade association.
"Competent writers and discerning editors, greatly assisted by more widespread dissemination of factual material, have been better able to inform, advise and guide an evergrowing populace," says the plaque honoring Webb and his colleagues.
Utah's first news publication was the Deseret News, which was founded in 1850. When the Utah Press Association was formed, the territory had six dailies and 30 other publications. Speaking at Friday's centennial celebration, former Gov. Calvin Rampton said the organization has played a vital role in shaping the state's towns and cities. Newspapers do more than distribute information, they provide men and women who care about community service, he said.
"There's no greater public service that can be rendered than through the press," Rampton said.
Gordon Owen Jr., Webb's grandson and former manager of the Utah Press Association, said the organization promotes the kind of journalism his grandfather hoped for when he organized the group.
"My grandfather embodied the traits and values exhibited today by editors and publishers," Owen said
The plaque honoring Webb and the organization's founders will be displayed at the John Hutchings Musuem in Lehi.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Founding members
Utah Press Association founding fathers:
- Walter L. Webb
Lehi Banner
- William Glassman
Ogden Standard
- Edwin Littlefield
Ogden Standard
- Lamoni Call
Davis County Clipper
- John Stahle
Davis County Clipper
- Josiah Gibbs
Deseret Blade
- Don Johnson
Springville Independent
- Michael F. Murray
Ephraim Enterprise
- J.B. Rawlings
Salt Lake Silver Star
- Milton L. Scott
American Fork Item
- Andy Rosenbaum
Logan Nation
- A.B. Thompson
Brighton Star