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The Deseret News (/ˌdɛzəˈrɛt/ ⓘ)[3] is a US multi-platform newspaper based in Salt Lake City, published by Deseret News Publishing Company, a subsidiary of Deseret Management Corporation, which is owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).[4] Founded in 1850, it was the first newspaper to be published in Utah.[5] The publication's name is from the geographic area of Deseret identified by Utah's pioneer settlers, and much of the publication's reporting is rooted in that region.[6][7]

Key Information

On January 1, 2021, the newspaper switched from a daily to a weekly print format while continuing to publish daily on the website and Deseret News app.[8] As of 2024, Deseret News develops daily content for its website and apps, in addition to twice weekly print editions of the Deseret News Local Edition and a weekly edition of the Church News and Deseret News National Edition. The company also publishes 10 editions of Deseret Magazine per year.

Founding and early years

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1800s

[edit]

The press

[edit]
Front page of the first issue of the Deseret News, published June 15, 1850

On March 31, 1847, while at Winter Quarters, Nebraska, the LDS Church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles authorized William W. Phelps to "go east and procure a printing press" to be taken to the future Mormon settlement in the Great Basin.[9]: 3–4  Phelps left Winter Quarters sometime in May, and went to Boston by way of the former Mormon settlement of Nauvoo, Illinois. In Boston, with the help of William I. Appleby, the president of the Church's Eastern States Mission, and Church member Alexander Badlam, Phelps was able to procure a wrought iron Ramage hand-press, type, and other required equipment. He returned to Winter Quarters on November 12, 1847, with the press.[9]: 11–12  Due partly to its size and weight, the press and equipment would not be taken to Salt Lake City until 1849. By that time many of the Mormon pioneers had left Winter Quarters and the press was moved across the Missouri River to another temporary Mormon settlement, Kanesville, Iowa.[9]: 16  In April 1849 the press and other church property was loaded onto ox drawn wagons, and traveled with the Howard Egan Company along the Mormon Trail.[9]: 17  The wagon company, with the press, arrived in the Salt Lake Valley August 7, 1849.[10]

The press was moved into a small adobe building (just east of the present site of the Hotel Utah) that also served as a coin mint for the settlers.[11] The press was at first used to print the necessary documents (such as laws, records, and forms) used in setting up the provisional State of Deseret.[9]: 368–368 

First issue

[edit]

The first issue of the Deseret News was published June 15, 1850, and was eight pages long. This first issue included the paper's prospectus, written by the editor Willard Richards, along with news from the United States Congress, and a report on the San Francisco 1849 Christmas Eve fire; an event which had occurred six months prior.[12] Because it was meant to be the voice of the State of Deseret, it was called the Deseret News, and its motto was "Truth and Liberty". It was at first a weekly Saturday publication, and published in "pamphlet form" in hopes that readers would have the papers bound into volumes.[13] Subscription rate was $2.50 for six months.

A jobs press, usually called the Deseret News Press, was also set up so the News could print books, booklets, handbills, broadsides, etc., for paying customers and other publishers.[9]: 74 

Paper

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From the beginning, paper shortages were a problem for the News staff. Starting with the October 19, 1850, issue—only four months after publication began—the paper had to be changed to a bi-weekly publication.[9]: 53  Even so, many times in the 1850s there were several periods when the News could not be published for lack of paper; one period lasted three months during the fall of 1851.[9]: 54–55 

Thomas Howard, a Mormon immigrant from England, and a paper-maker, approached Brigham Young about using some machinery—originally meant for producing sugar—to make their own paper; Young agreed to the plan. The publishers asked everyone to donate old paper and cloth to the venture. In the summer of 1854 the first issues of the News were published on "homemade paper" that was very thick, and grayish in color.[9]: 56–57 

Even with paper shortages, occasionally a News extra would be published, if there were important news or a sermon that could not wait for the regular publication date.[9]: 73 

Utah War

[edit]
The Utah Territorial Statehouse, home of the News during the Utah War
An early News printing press displayed in the statehouse basement

During a turbulent time period, later known as the Utah War, the News presses and equipment were moved to the central and southern parts of the state. As armed forces of the United States camped just outside the state at Fort Bridger, George Q. Cannon was assigned to take some presses and equipment to Fillmore while Henry McEwan was to take the remainder to Parowan. On May 5, 1858, the first issue of the News with Fillmore City as the publication place appeared; issues would continue to be printed in both Fillmore and Parowan until September 1858[9]: 89–90  While in Fillmore, the press was kept in the basement of the Utah Territorial Statehouse. That fall the presses were brought back to Salt Lake City and placed in the Council House, allowing the News to begin normal operations. The soldiers who had marched to Utah during the war would remain at the newly constructed Camp Floyd. Their need for a newspaper, one not published by the LDS Church, was satisfied with Kirk Anderson's Valley Tan, the area's second newspaper (and first competitor to the News); published November 6, 1858.[9]: 98 

During the 1850s through 1860s, numerous articles in the News were printed in the Deseret Alphabet.[9]: 75 

Challenges and changes

[edit]

The coming of the Pony Express to Utah in 1860 would bring changes to the paper, allowing news from the East to arrive in the Territory much faster. Even so, the paper remained a weekly, with News extras being published with more frequency and temporary renamed The Pony Dispatch.[14]

Yet, paper problems still plagued the publishers; paper was very expensive to haul from California or the East, and attempts at making paper in the valley were still, for the most part, futile. In 1860 a paper-making machine had been purchased, and set-up in the Deseret Manufacturing Company sugar house factory, but lack of available materials meant a lack of paper. As a result, Brigham Young called George Goddard on a rag-gathering mission. Goddard traveled through the territory collecting rags that would then be turned into paper, and was able to supply enough to keep the News in production.[9]: 124–125  Other problems such as ice and drought on the stream, running out of Parley's Canyon, that ran the paper mill caused the paper to have short lapses in publication.[9]: 125 

In October 1861, the lines of the First Transcontinental Telegraph met in Salt Lake City, making the Pony Express obsolete, and bringing news to the Territory almost instantly. The News extras, now sometimes called telegraphic dispatches, were printed with even more frequency.

The Deseret Store, home of the Deseret News from 1851 to 1854 and 1862–1903

In March 1862, the News and its staff moved from the Council House to the Deseret Store,[9]: 125  and in 1864 a steam-powered printing press arrived; it was placed in the basement the building.[9]: 126  The set type was lowered from the offices in the building's upper floor to the basement, through holes in each floor. Later an addition was constructed to the east of this building, and the presses were moved into that building.[9]: 181 

On October 8, 1865, the News launched its semi-weekly edition, this allowed news to get out more quickly and allowed for more advertisements. The weekly edition would continue and contained much of the same content as the semi-weekly, but editorials were different.[9]: 141 

In November 1867, George Q. Cannon became the editor, and on the 21st of that month, the News published its first daily edition, which was printed in the evening, and as such was named The Deseret Evening News.[9]: 146  Most of what was published in the daily edition, was also published in the weekly and semi-weekly, as the daily was meant for city readers and the weekly and semi-weekly for those living in the more rural areas of the territory.[9]: 150  Until December 1898 all three editions—the weekly, semi-weekly, and daily—were published concurrently.[9]: 171 

In 1870, the Mormon Tribune, later named The Salt Lake Tribune, was first printed, adding a new newspaper rival to the Salt Lake area. Since its founding the Tribune and News have often been involved in "newspaper battles", times when they could not agree on anything, even secular items. During these battles the News has often been called grandmother, granny, or The Mormon Hand Organ.[9]: 196 

Since its first publication, the News had been owned directly by the LDS Church, but as worries about property confiscation increased due to the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act and Poland Act, the paper's ownership was transferred to The Deseret News Company following incorporation on September 3, 1880.[9]: 183  About this same time the News began looking for a location to build a new paper mill, as the Sugar House paper plant was inadequate. A new granite plant was constructed near the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon, 13 miles south of the paper's offices. The mill began producing paper in April 1883, and was known as the Cottonwood Paper Mill.[15] The News would sell the paper mill in 1892 to the Granite Paper Mills Company.[9]: 199–200  The mill caught fire and was destroyed April 1, 1893.

Changing ownership

[edit]

On October 1, 1892, The Deseret News Company leased the News along with all the company's printing, bookbinding, and merchandising to the Cannon family. The family was, at that time, operating the George Q. Cannon & Sons bookstore in downtown Salt Lake City. When the lease began the family formed the Deseret News Printing Company, which was to be the lessee, while The Deseret News Company would remain a legal entity as the lessor. Two children of former News editor George Q. Cannon would play prominent roles during this period, with John Q. Cannon as editor and Abraham H. Cannon as business manager.[9]: 207–208  The leasing had occurred due to financial troubles, and the Cannon family hoped to make the business profitable. This did not happen and the paper's assets and property were transferred back to The Deseret News Company on September 7, 1898; after almost six years under the control of the Cannon family. The family's Deseret News Publishing Company was dissolved after the lease was gone, and within a few months The Deseret News Company was also dissolved and ownership of the paper was returned directly to the LDS Church.[9]: 225–226 

When the LDS Church regained direct control over the News, Horace G. Whitney was appointed business manager and Charles W. Penrose returned as editor. Immediately the paper's weekly edition, The Deseret Weekly, was discontinued; its last issue was published December 10, 1898.[9]: 230–231 

1900s

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The Deseret News and Union Pacific Building, home of the News from 1903 to 1926

On October 1, 1900, the George Q. Cannon & Sons bookstore was sold to the LDS Church, and renamed the Deseret News Bookstore. In 1920 the Deseret Sunday School Union Bookstore was also consolidated into the Deseret News Bookstore, and eventually the bookstore would become its own company, Deseret Book.

In 1903, the News moved out from its longtime home in the Deseret Store, kitty-corner to a newly constructed building. This was the first time the paper had a building constructed expressly for it. It was designed by Richard K.A. Kletting and built with stone from Mount Nebo in Central Utah. While the building was under construction, a fire destroyed the Oregon Short Line building in Salt Lake City, and the railroad wanted to rent space in the new building. As a result, the News constructed an annex to the west of the new building for more space.[9]: 243–244  This new home was at the site of the former Council House; presently the Beneficial Tower (Gateway Tower West) sits at this location.

The daily, called the Deseret Evening News, was renamed to the Deseret News on June 15, 1920; the paper's 70th anniversary. The semi-weekly was discontinued on June 22, 1922, leaving the daily as the only news publication. Two days later the News announced it had purchased the Utah Farmer, a weekly agricultural paper; which it would eventually sell.[9]: 283–284 

In 1926, the News once again moved into a new building, this time on Richard's Street (just south of the present Deseret Book store in City Creek Center.) This same year, the News began using teletype technology to receive news from the Associated Press.[9]: 288–289 

During the 1920s the paper's circulation nearly doubled, reaching almost 40,000.[9]: 291 

Radio

[edit]

On November 20, 1920, the News began airing nightly wireless news flashes, called the Deseret News-International News Service bulletins. The paper had also formed The Deseret News Wireless Club, with members across the Western United States who would transcribe the radio bulletins and post them in their communities.[9]: 269  In April 1922, the paper received a license to officially operate a radio station, with call letters KZN (later changed to KSL). The station's first regular broadcast aired on May 6, 1922, in the form of a talk by then-LDS Church president Heber J. Grant.[16] In 1924, the station was sold to John Cope and his father, F.W. Cope, who formed the Radio Service Corporation of Utah. The LDS Church would later purchase this corporation and go on to create KSL-TV.[17] The News, KSL Radio, and KSL Television remain closely linked via the global operating company, Deseret Management Corporation, which also owns Bonneville International, Deseret Book Company, and Deseret Media Company, among other organizations.

The Deseret News Publishing Company

[edit]

The Deseret News had been under the direct ownership of the LDS Church since 1898, when The Deseret News Company was dissolved. On December 29, 1931, the Deseret News Publishing Company was incorporated (not to be confused with the Deseret News Publishing Company formed in 1892 by the Cannon family to lease ownership of the paper, and dissolved when the lease was over). Its articles of incorporation, filed with the Salt Lake County Clerk, provided for 500 shares of stock, all retained by the LDS Church (with the exception of the qualifying directors' shares).[18]

First Sunday edition

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On May 16, 1948, the Deseret News would deliver its first Sunday paper. The first Sunday edition contained 154 pages with a new farm, home, and garden section.[9] The Sunday edition would continue into the 1950s, when an agreement with The Salt Lake Tribune would cease publication.

Newspaper Agency Corporation

[edit]

After World War II, the Deseret News, The Salt Lake Tribune, and the Salt Lake Telegram were all struggling financially, but no more than the Deseret News. In September 1952, the owners of the News (LDS Church) and Tribune (Thomas Kearns Family) entered into a joint operating agreement (JOA), where each published separate editorial material while sharing printing, advertising and circulation costs. This JOA was the brainchild of Tribune Publisher John F. Fitzpatrick who helped LDS Church president David O. McKay ensure the continuation of the Deseret News. As its architect, Fitzpatrick knew that this NAC arrangement would also benefit the Tribune. The Deseret News stopped Sunday publication; subscribers received a Sunday Tribune instead. The Deseret News also purchased the afternoon Salt Lake Telegram from the Tribune. The Telegram was discontinued, and into the mid-1960s, the paper's nameplate read: The Deseret News and Salt Lake Telegram. The 30-year agreement between the two papers was renewed in 1982, with some changes. The Newspaper Agency Corporation was renamed to MediaOne of Utah in 2007.

In 1968, the Deseret News once again moved, this time into a new building on Regent Street.

Sunday morning edition

[edit]

The joint operating agreement with the Tribune in 1952 had ended the paper's Sunday edition, but when the 30-year-old agreement was up for renewal, it was changed to allow the Deseret News to publish a Sunday morning edition and change its Saturday publication from an evening to morning paper.[19] The first Sunday morning edition of the Deseret News appeared January 16, 1983, and the paper has published a Sunday edition ever since.

Regent Street headquarters

[edit]
The former location of the Deseret News on Regent Street. The newspaper's logotype was carved into the top of the building's façade (since filled in by its new tenant) to give the building the appearance of the newspaper.

The newspaper moved into its newly constructed headquarters on Regent Street downtown Salt Lake City in 1997.

Competition with The Salt Lake Tribune

[edit]

As the twentieth century ended, the Deseret News found itself embroiled in a contentious and often public battle with The Salt Lake Tribune, centered around the terms of their joint operating agreement, the desire of the Deseret News to switch from afternoon to morning publication, and ownership changes at the Tribune. The battle was resolved with the 2000 sale of the Tribune[20] and with the Deseret News switching to morning publication and changing its name on June 9, 2003, to the Deseret Morning News.

Digital era

[edit]

1990s

[edit]

On January 26, 1995, the Deseret News launched the Crossroads Information Network, allowing subscribers to access the News digitally through their dial-up service; digital-only subscriptions were also created. Installation of the Crossroads software—which was mailed on floppy disk to each subscriber beginning in February 1995—was required on each user's computer. The network also allowed users to access the paper's complete text along with archives back to April 1988, the Church News and the LDS Church Almanac. The software allowed subscribers to communicate with each other through an email-like system.[21][22] Eventually the Crossroads Information Network was shut down and its features were moved to DesNews.com, which itself was replaced with DeseretNews.com.

The paper's first website, DesNews.com, was launched on September 27, 1995. This allowed News content to be accessed through an internet website, rather than the software required by Crossroads. The website was meant for those outside the Salt Lake area, who had to pay long-distance calling charges when dialed into the Crossroads network.[23][24]

2000s

[edit]

On April 13, 2008, Joseph A. Cannon announced in a front page editor's note that the name of the newspaper had been changed back to the Deseret News, although the News would continue to be published in the morning.[25]

2010s

[edit]
The Triad Center in Downtown Salt Lake City, current home of the News

In 2010, the Deseret News moved its offices out of the Deseret News Building to the broadcast house in the Triad Center, so they could integrate with KSL's newsroom.[26]

In November 2016, Doug Wilks became the editor of the Deseret News.[27]

In October 2016, breaking an 80-year tradition of staying out of U.S. presidential politics, the Deseret News editorial board urged Donald Trump to resign his candidacy.[28]

2020s

[edit]

In October 2020, the Deseret News and The Salt Lake Tribune announced the dissolution of their decades-long Joint Operating Agreement to share printing facilities.[29] With the end of the agreement, both publications were free to contract printing needs with third parties and chart their futures independent of each other. After the dissolution became apparent, the Deseret News made the decision to end its daily print edition beginning January 1, 2021 (after just over 153 years of daily publication). The daily print edition was replaced with a new weekly local edition and the company would continue to print the weekly national edition, Church News, and introduce the Deseret Magazine.[30][31] Starting March 23, 2022, the Deseret News began publication of the semiweekly local edition, bringing print publication of their local edition to twice weekly.[32]

In December 2020, the Deseret News editorial board again broke political neutrality by denouncing Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes's decision to support a lawsuit requesting that the US Supreme Court withhold the certified vote count from four states following the 2020 presidential election.[33]

In 2021, Utah's Senator Mike Lee demanded a retraction after a statement attributed to him (regarding a phone call held during the January 6 United States Capitol attack), and published in the Deseret News on January 7, 2021, was brought up during the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump.[34]

Products

[edit]

Deseret News website and app

[edit]

The paper's first website, DesNews.com, was launched on September 27, 1995. The domain was later changed to DeseretNews.com, and changed again in August 2019 to Deseret.com.[35]

The Deseret News launched native iOS apps in December 2011.[36] An Android version of the app was later released for the Google Play Store.

Deseret News Local Edition

[edit]

The Deseret News Local Edition is published twice weekly.

Deseret News National Edition

[edit]

The Deseret News National Edition is a national weekly print paper concentrating its reporting and feature articles on areas including family, faith, education, and other values core to the LDS faith.[37] It is available for delivery throughout the United States.

Deseret Magazine

[edit]

The Deseret News launched its monthly magazine in 2021,[38] which publishes ten times a year with a double issue in July/August and January/February. The magazine covers the people and culture of the Deseret region (from the Sierras to the Rockies, from the border of Mexico to the Pacific Northwest) and its intersection with the broader world. It includes essays on politics, culture, and faith from local and national thought leaders as well as other narratives and profiles.

Coverage of faith

[edit]

In addition to coverage of Utah and the broader region, the Deseret News also publishes content under its "Faith" section that features stories related to religion, churches and places of worship, and topics that intersect with faith such as Supreme Court rulings and religious education. These topics cover the breadth of beliefs across the United States, including but not limited to the LDS Church. Previously, content under the "Faith" section included only news unrelated to the LDS Church, with news related to the LDS Church covered by Mormon Times.[39]

Church News

[edit]

The Deseret News also publishes a weekly compact-sized insert, the Church News. The Church News includes news of the LDS Church and has been published since 1931. From 1974 to 2013, the Deseret News also published the Church Almanac, an annual edition carrying LDS Church facts and statistics edited by Church News staff.

Of Good Report / Mormon Times

[edit]

Mormon Times was created as a publication with its own independent circulation base and also as the Religion section of the Deseret News in January 2008.[40]

On October 3, 2010, following the success of the Mormon Times in print and online, a TV series premiered summarizing stories from the print version of the Mormon Times, along with interviews, hosted by Michelle King.[41] The show has since ended.

In July 2011, the Deseret News's religion section was renamed "Faith", with the Mormon Times label applying only to its LDS-themed content.[42] Since then, the Mormon Times has been retired as a publication, with all content related to religion of all faiths publishing under the "Faith" section of the Deseret News.

On August 7, 2020, following adjustments to LDS Church name use established in 2018 to stop using terms like "Mormon", etc., Mormon Times changed its name to Of Good Report. Its content is currently exclusive to social media.

Organization

[edit]

News staff

[edit]

The newspaper's editors included the following:

Among those who have served as publisher of the Deseret News include Wendell J. Ashton (1978–85), William James Mortimer (1985–2000),[47] Jim Wall,[50] Chris Lee, Jeff Simpson, Robin Ritch (2021–2023),[51] and Burke Olsen[52] (2023–present).

In the 1972–1986 period when Smart was the editor, Gordon B. Hinckley and Thomas S. Monson were among the presidents of the Deseret News Publishing Company.[53]

2010 restructuring

[edit]

Summer 2010 saw multiple changes both in leadership and structure at the Deseret News. A new Opinion Editor, Paul S. Edwards, was appointed. Edwards had previously been provost at Southern Virginia University and earlier a political science professor at Brigham Young University (BYU). Editor Joe Cannon and publisher Jim Wall stepped down.

During the summer of 2010, it was announced that the Deseret News for the first time ever would have a president and CEO; Clark Gilbert was appointed to this position. He was already CEO of Deseret Digital Media. Gilbert announced the future of Deseret News was leaner, and more online. In August 2010, he announced the layoffs of 85 staffers, 57 full-time and 28 part-time. It resulted in a reduction of 43% of the paper's entire staff.[26][54]

The Deseret News also created an editorial advisory board to work with Gilbert and Edwards; it consisted of people with a broad variety of backgrounds:

Recognition

[edit]

The Deseret News reporter Robert Mullins won a Pulitzer Prize in 1962 for local reporting "for his resourceful coverage of a murder and kidnapping at Dead Horse Point State Park".[56]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Deseret News

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia

The Deseret News is an American newspaper headquartered in , , founded on June 15, 1850, by pioneers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the inaugural publication in the . Owned by the church through its affiliated , the paper originated as a weekly printed on a handpress hauled across the plains, serving to disseminate news, church doctrines, and pioneer updates amid isolation from eastern presses. Its name derives from "Deseret," a term denoting the honeybee, emblematic of industriousness central to Latter-day Saint ethos. Over 175 years, the Deseret News has transitioned from a biweekly to a daily edition, adapting to technological shifts including steam-powered printing in the and digital platforms today, while maintaining a focus on , , and principled reporting aligned with its founding commitment to "Liberty & Truth." It has chronicled pivotal events in and Latter-day Saint history, from territorial settlement to global church expansion, often prioritizing coverage of religious conferences and moral issues over . As one of the oldest continuously published newspapers in the , its endurance reflects resilience against economic pressures and media disruptions, bolstered by church stewardship that insulates it from typical commercial vicissitudes.

History

Founding and Pioneer Era (1850–1899)

The Deseret News was established on June 15, 1850, as the first newspaper in the , published by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under the direction of to inform the isolated pioneer settlers. The inaugural issue, edited by and printed on a Ramage press in a one-room shack on South Temple Street east of Main Street in , comprised eight pages with a print run of 220 copies sold at 15 cents each or $2.50 for a six-month subscription. Its content focused on church communications, local news, pioneer activities, and practical advice for life, proclaiming a commitment to "our motto — liberty and truth." Early operations contended with scarce resources and rudimentary technology, prompting a shift to bi-weekly publication starting October 19, 1850, amid paper shortages, though it primarily remained weekly through December 1898. In 1851, the press relocated to the adjacent Deseret Store Building, followed by a three-story adobe facility at the northwest corner of South Temple and Main Streets in 1852. During the Utah War of 1857–1858, the newspaper temporarily moved to Fillmore to avoid federal troops while sustaining publication to relay updates to the community. Technological progress marked the mid-century, with Brigham Young procuring a paper-making machine in 1860 for installation in a Sugar House mill, supplemented by tithing contributions of rags for pulp. By 1865, frequency increased to semi-weekly, aiding dissemination of ecclesiastical directives, territorial developments, and rebuttals to anti-Mormon narratives amid the pioneers' efforts to build the . Through the , the Deseret News upheld its role as the principal medium for Latter-day Saint voices, chronicling settlement expansion and self-sufficiency until transitioning toward daily editions at century's end.

Early 20th Century Expansion and Challenges (1900–1949)

In the early 1900s, the Deseret News expanded its content offerings, incorporating photographs as a regular feature starting in 1900 and developing specialized sections such as sports, business, society, farm, home, and garden under editor Horace G. Whitney. This period also saw the separation of the newspaper's power press operations into the Deseret News Book and Job Press in 1900, enhancing printing capabilities. Technological advancements accelerated expansion, with the introduction of the first regular , "," in 1916, followed by nightly wireless news flashes via radio in 1920 and the acquisition of a radio license in 1922, leading to the inaugural broadcast of station KZN on May 6, 1922, from atop the newspaper building. By 1926, the addition of teletypes for global news and a relocation to Richards Street supported broader coverage, while the sports page grew to three or four pages by 1929. In 1931, teletype machines further improved wire news access, and wire photo transmission began in 1935. The posed significant challenges, with circulation declining from approximately 40,000 subscribers in 1930 to 34,000 by 1940 amid economic hardship. Despite this, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints established the Deseret News Publishing Company in 1932 to manage operations, providing institutional stability. introduced paper rationing from 1941 to 1945, constraining printing, though circulation rebounded sharply to 100,000 subscribers by 1948 due to heightened demand for news. To address wartime and postwar supply issues, the newspaper joined efforts in 1947 to acquire an paper mill and shifted to purchasing newsprint by the ton, consuming 200 tons monthly by then and 700 tons by 1949. New features like in the 1940s, daily baby pictures from 1940, the Church News section evolving in 1943, and the first Sunday edition with color photos on May 16, 1948, marked further adaptation and growth. The relocation of Deseret Press facilities near Redwood Road in 1948 and staff expansion with young writers underscored operational enhancements amid these challenges.

Post-War Developments and Joint Operations (1950–1989)

Following World War II, the Deseret News faced significant financial challenges amid intense competition from the Salt Lake Tribune and the evening Salt Lake Telegram, with all three papers experiencing declining revenues and profitability in the late 1940s and early 1950s. To address these pressures, in April 1952, the Deseret News entered into a joint operating agreement (JOA) with the Salt Lake Tribune, establishing the Newspaper Agency Corporation to jointly manage printing presses, delivery systems, and advertising sales while preserving editorial independence for each publication. As part of this arrangement, the Deseret News purchased the Salt Lake Telegram from the Tribune for an undisclosed sum and absorbed its operations, effectively discontinuing the Telegram as a separate entity; the Deseret News also ceased its own Sunday edition, redirecting subscribers to the Tribune's version to reduce duplication and costs. The JOA stabilized operations and allowed the Deseret News to focus resources on content and community engagement, leading to notable achievements such as a 1962 for local reporting by staff writer Bob Mullins on a high-profile murder case in southeastern . In 1966, the creation of restructured the organization, positioning the Deseret News Publishing Company as a to oversee broader media and interests aligned with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The paper relocated to a new facility on in 1968, enhancing production capabilities. Community initiatives expanded, including sponsorship of the annual Salute to Youth symphony concert starting in 1959, co-launch of the Sterling Scholar Awards with in 1962 to recognize high school excellence, and the inaugural Deseret News Marathon in 1970, which drew thousands of participants and boosted local visibility. By the and , the Deseret News introduced specialized products like the Church Almanac in 1974, providing statistical and organizational data on church operations worldwide. Technological upgrades included the adoption of word-processing computers in 1983, enabling electronic story transmission and improving . The JOA proved enduring, with a 1982 renewal extending it for another 30 years and affirming the partnership's role in sustaining both papers amid evolving media landscapes. These developments underscored a shift toward collaborative , editorial distinction, and community-rooted journalism while navigating postwar economic recovery.

Digital Transformation and Restructuring (1990–Present)

In the mid-1990s, the Deseret News began transitioning to digital formats amid the rise of the , offering full-text editions online starting January 25, 1995, covering content from April 1, 1988, onward. This early adoption reflected broader industry efforts to leverage for content distribution, though print remained dominant. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, declining print advertising—exacerbated by classified revenue drops of up to 70%—prompted strategic reevaluations. The appointment of as CEO in 2009 marked a pivotal phase, emphasizing "dual transformation" to sustain legacy operations while building digital capabilities. In September 2009, announced the formation of the Deseret Digital Media Division, consolidating web operations from the Deseret News, KSL, and Deseret Book to enhance digital advertising and content delivery. This entity, later known as Deseret Digital Media (DDM), was officially structured in 2010 to prioritize online platforms. A major overhaul occurred in August 2010, when the Deseret News eliminated 85 newsroom positions—57 full-time and 28 part-time—reducing editorial staff by 43% to reallocate resources toward digital growth and specialized reporting. These cuts, amid a 30% decline in display advertising, enabled a refocus on faith-informed, values-driven content with broader digital reach; subsequent digital revenues rose 60% year-over-year. Further adaptations included revising the joint operating agreement (JOA) with in October 2013 to maintain editorial independence while sharing business functions. The JOA expired December 31, 2020, ending collaborative print and delivery operations, which facilitated independent digital expansion. That year, the Deseret News discontinued its daily print edition, transitioning to weekly publications for and national audiences, while amplifying online offerings to serve growing digital subscribers across platforms. This shift aligned with industry trends toward multi-platform delivery, positioning the publication to prioritize empirical, family-centered journalism in an increasingly online ecosystem.

Ownership and Organizational Structure

Affiliation with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Deseret News was established on June 15, 1850, by , a senior leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and member of the Apostles, under the direction of church president . The inaugural issue, printed in an adobe shack in with a press brought by , consisted of 220 copies and focused on church-related news, pioneer updates, and doctrinal expositions to sustain the isolated Latter-day Saint community in the . This founding cemented its role as the church's official organ, disseminating announcements from Young and other leaders amid federal opposition to and territorial governance. Ownership has remained with the church since inception, evolving through corporate structures to manage its media assets. In 1901, the Deseret News Publishing Company was formed under church auspices, and by 2000, it operated under , a for-profit holding entity wholly owned by the Corporation of the of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. DMC oversees multiple church-affiliated businesses, ensuring the Deseret News aligns operationally with ecclesiastical priorities while maintaining journalistic autonomy in daily editorial choices. Approximately 89 percent of the newspaper's readership consists of individuals affiliated with the church, reflecting its core audience and historical ties. The affiliation manifests in the publication's mission statement, which emphasizes values derived from Latter-day Saint teachings, such as , , and moral principles, integrated into its reporting on news, culture, and faith topics. Church leaders have periodically influenced strategic directions, including joint operating agreements with secular competitors like in 1952 and 1997, to preserve the Deseret News's viability amid market pressures, without direct control over content. This structure balances institutional loyalty with professional standards, as articulated in church statements prioritizing truth and liberty in line with pioneer-era mottos.

Governance and Management Evolution

The Deseret News has operated under church-directed governance since its founding on June 15, 1850, when , president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, appointed as its first editor to serve as an official outlet for pioneer Mormon settlers in the . Early management was closely integrated with church hierarchy, with editors and publishers often serving as general authorities or appointees of the church presidency, ensuring alignment with doctrinal priorities amid territorial challenges like federal scrutiny and limited resources. This structure emphasized communal oversight rather than independent corporate autonomy, reflecting the newspaper's role as a tool for unifying the faith community and disseminating church news. A pivotal shift occurred in 1966 with the establishment of (DMC), a for-profit entity owned by the church to professionally manage affiliated businesses, including the Deseret News Publishing Company as its subsidiary. DMC introduced a more formalized operational framework, with executive leadership handling day-to-day decisions while ultimate authority rested with church leaders, including potential input from the First Presidency and other presiding bodies. This evolution allowed for specialized management of media assets, separating routine administration from direct prophetic involvement, though the church retained veto power over strategic directions to preserve its mission of faith-informed journalism. Subsequent appointments, such as Jim M. Wall as publisher in July 2000, underscored a trend toward recruiting experienced media professionals to enhance editorial and business operations. The 2010 restructuring under DMC marked a significant adaptation to declining print revenues and digital disruption, transitioning DMC from a holding to an operating with a revised mission emphasizing "light and truth." This involved workforce reductions of up to 43 percent, consolidation with for content synergies, and the formation of Deseret Digital Media to prioritize national digital reach over local exclusivity. changes continued, with Robin Ritch appointed president of the Deseret News in 2021 to oversee integrated print and online platforms, and Jeff Simpson assuming the DMC CEO role in 2023 to guide broader media strategy amid evolving consumer habits. These developments reflect a model balancing church with professional agility, prioritizing without compromising core values.

Staff and Editorial Operations

The editorial leadership of the Deseret News consists of an executive editor, editor, and managing editor who oversee content production across print, digital, and multimedia platforms. Doug Wilks holds the position of executive editor, with a career spanning four decades in reporting and editing, including prior roles with the Scripps League Newspapers. Sarah Jane Weaver was named editor on May 21, 2024, after serving as executive editor of the Church News, a publication affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Aaron Shill serves as managing editor, having joined the organization in 2003 and contributed to editing and writing in areas such as sports and faith reporting. The newsroom staff includes specialized reporters, editors, photojournalists, and multimedia producers organized by desks covering topics like , , video production, and podcasts. Notable roles encompass staff writers such as Joe Coles for sports, photojournalists like Tess Crowley, and video editors including Rachel Aston and Rex Warner, reflecting a focus on diverse content formats. The overall organization employs approximately 220 staff members, with the editorial team comprising a core subset dedicated to journalistic output amid a multi-platform strategy that prioritizes digital and national expansion. Editorial operations emphasize six focal areas—family, excellence in education, faith, financial responsibility, the good life, and greater good—which shape news reporting, analysis, and commentary to address undercovered issues. Content creation integrates local coverage with broader national reach through web-only products and specialized teams, supported by submission guidelines for letters to the editor (limited to 200 words) and guest opinions that require exclusivity and relevance. This structure enables efficient production while aligning with the publication's commitment to principled , as evidenced by periodic leadership transitions to adapt to industry shifts.

Editorial Philosophy and Content Approach

Commitment to Faith-Informed Journalism

The Deseret News integrates principles derived from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints into its journalistic approach, emphasizing pro-social religiosity, of Jesus Christ, and the protection of religious freedom under the First Amendment. This faith-informed framework shapes coverage to prioritize stories illuminating , , and fundamental values that foster strong societies, while maintaining a commitment to fact-based reporting and . Central to this commitment is advocacy for the institution as a societal , opposing measures perceived to undermine it, such as the of or redefinitions of , alongside support for policies like humane that consider family unity. The publication's editorial principles explicitly root these stances in Latter-day teachings, positioning not merely as neutral observation but as a means to elevate understanding, challenge assumptions, and provide context informed by moral absolutes. This approach contrasts with secular media norms by foregrounding religious perspectives, as evidenced by extensive reporting that includes local church events, international religious developments, and Supreme Court rulings on faith-related issues. Despite its ecclesiastical ownership through , the Deseret News upholds journalistic integrity as a "," earning accolades like a for its adherence to verifiable facts over ideological conformity. Faith informs but does not dictate editorial independence, with staff expected to align with church standards while pursuing unimpeachable truth-seeking; however, this alignment can result in coverage that amplifies church-favorable narratives, such as defenses of traditional values amid cultural shifts. The publication's historical motto of "Truth and " underscores this balance, reflecting a pioneer-era where reporting served both informational and inspirational roles for Mormon settlers.

Emphasis on Conservative Values and Empirical Reporting

The Deseret News integrates conservative values into its editorial content, particularly emphasizing personal responsibility, free-market principles, constitutional governance, and the preservation of family and faith as societal cornerstones. Opinion pieces frequently advocate for these tenets, such as calls to unify conservatives around freedom, virtue, and security amid political fractures. This alignment reflects the publication's roots in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which informs a prioritizing traditional frameworks over progressive reinterpretations, without endorsing partisan candidates per church neutrality policies. In reporting, the Deseret News prioritizes empirical rigor and factual accuracy, earning a "High" factual reporting rating from independent evaluators due to minimal failed fact checks and reliance on verifiable data over narrative-driven speculation. It critiques practices like "grievance journalism," which amplifies outrage at the expense of evidence, and "hit pieces" designed to provoke rather than inform, positioning itself as a counter to sensationalism prevalent in broader media landscapes. Editorial standards stress "face-based reporting free from politics," urging adherence to truth as foundational to credible journalism, even when addressing contentious issues like cultural shifts or policy debates. This approach includes caution against unsubstantiated estimates that erode public trust, favoring instead analysis grounded in historical facts and observable outcomes. The publication's right-center bias, as assessed by multiple rating organizations, manifests in coverage that defends conservative priorities—such as toward expansive and support for market-driven solutions—while maintaining a commitment to principled that avoids the partisan imbalances observed in left-leaning outlets. By focusing on solutions-oriented informed by rather than ideological , Deseret News seeks to elevate understanding, particularly on topics like family policy and economic where data-driven causal links challenge prevailing orthodoxies.

Coverage of Controversial Topics

Deseret News coverage of controversial topics, such as and LGBTQ-related issues, integrates empirical data on societal impacts with perspectives informed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' doctrines emphasizing and moral principles. The publication reports on legal developments, polls, and studies while highlighting church positions, including opposition to elective s for personal convenience. For instance, it has detailed Utah's blocking most s post-Dobbs v. (2022), noting court injunctions extending into 2026 and ballot measure outcomes in states like and rejecting expansions of abortion access. On LGBTQ matters, Deseret News examines tensions between nondiscrimination laws and religious freedoms, as in its analysis of the 2015 Utah Compromise legislation, which paired protections for both alongside critiques of practices like for minors. It cites research showing nearly half of U.S. LGBT adults identify as religious and lower suicide ideation among religious LGBTQ youth compared to secular peers, while covering rulings allowing parents to of school curricula featuring LGBTQ themes. In political controversies, the outlet maintains neutrality on candidate endorsements, consistent with church policy, but has issued editorials critiquing figures on character grounds, such as a 2016 call for to withdraw following the tape, drawing backlash from conservative readers. Coverage prioritizes and data-driven analysis, as seen in reporting on polarization, book bans in schools, and polls revealing opposition to parental objections overriding library removals but limited support for youth policies. Critics from various perspectives accuse Deseret News of conservative bias on social issues, with some readers labeling it propagandistic or overly aligned with church views, though independent assessments rate it as right-center biased with high factual reporting due to reliance on verifiable sources over . The publication counters claims of a "leftist agenda" by underscoring its focus on , , and empirical outcomes rather than partisanship.

Products and Platforms

The Deseret News began publication as a on June 15, 1850, with an initial print run of 220 copies produced on a Ramage press in . Due to acute paper shortages, the frequency shifted to biweekly by late 1850 and publication paused entirely for three months in fall 1851, marking the longest interruption in its history. Circulation grew to 700 copies by 1851, and the paper introduced extra editions tied to the in 1860 before resuming semiweekly printing in October 1865. A daily edition, the Deseret Evening News, commenced on November 21, 1867, supplementing the existing semiweekly format. The weekly edition ceased in April 1898, followed by the end of semiweekly printing in 1922, leaving only the daily edition thereafter. This daily print tradition persisted for over a century until December 31, 2020, when the final daily edition was produced, concluding 170 years of daily printing. As of January 1, 2021, the Deseret News transitioned to a biweekly local print edition for subscribers, consisting of a weekly Local Edition and a Midweek Local Edition featuring KSL news content. A separate weekly National Edition serves subscribers outside , emphasizing broader national and international coverage. Print supplements include the weekly Church News, which evolved from a Section launched in April 1931 and formalized in 1943, providing coverage of events within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Deseret Magazine, offering essays on politics, culture, and faith, is published in 10 print issues annually and bundled with newspaper subscriptions.

Digital Website, App, and National Reach

The Deseret News established its digital presence with the launch of the Crossroads Information Network on January 26, 1995, providing subscribers dial-up access to content. This early initiative marked the newspaper's transition to electronic delivery, preceding the widespread adoption of web-based platforms. By 2019, the organization unveiled a redesigned at deseret.com, emphasizing streamlined , faith-informed perspectives, and integration to enhance user engagement. Complementing the website, the Deseret News introduced mobile applications to broaden accessibility. The initial iOS app for , , and debuted in December 2011, achieving over 17,000 downloads shortly after release and requiring iOS 4.0 compatibility. An updated version for iPhones and iPads followed in November 2013, with Android enhancements planned concurrently. As of 2025, the app maintains a 4.7-star rating on the from over 25,000 reviews, offering features like alerts, offline reading, and rich content. A separate Digital Replica app replicates the print edition for subscribers, available on both iOS and Android platforms. Digital platforms have propelled the Deseret News toward national and global reach, with over half of its online readership residing outside as of early 2025. This expansion reflects a strategic pivot to digital-first , where audience size dwarfs —by 2020, digital users numbered nearly 500 times the local print subscribers. In February 2025, the addition of a Washington, D.C., bureau enhanced national political coverage, targeting broader demographics interested in conservative values, faith, and empirical reporting. Deseret Digital Media, encompassing the News's online operations, has sustained annual revenue growth averaging 44% in earlier years, underscoring the viability of this model amid declining print revenues.

Specialized Supplements and Magazines

The Church News serves as the primary specialized supplement of the Deseret News, functioning as an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and jointly produced with the newspaper. Originating as the Church Section on April 4, 1931, it evolved into a dedicated weekly insert focused on church-related news, events, and member stories. By June 5, 1943, it was rebranded as the Church News, expanding from an initial eight-page format to a more comprehensive weekly supplement distributed with the Deseret News print editions. This supplement emphasizes faith-based reporting, including coverage of general conferences, temple dedications, activities, and humanitarian efforts, while maintaining a distinct separation from the newspaper's general news content. In addition to its print form, the Church News has adapted to digital platforms, offering online articles, podcasts, and newsletters that extend its reach beyond traditional subscribers. Print subscriptions are bundled with Deseret News local or national editions, priced at approximately $4 weekly for local or $69 annually for national access as of 2022, ensuring broad dissemination among church members. Over its nine decades, the supplement has chronicled key church milestones, such as leadership changes and global expansion, providing a reliable archival resource for history. Deseret Magazine represents the Deseret News' flagship monthly publication, launched to deliver in-depth on topics spanning , , , and contemporary issues. Published by Deseret News Publishing Company, it appears monthly except for combined bi-monthly issues in January/February and July/August, featuring essays, interviews, and analyses from diverse contributors. The magazine prioritizes principled perspectives, often exploring the intersection of with modern challenges, such as technological advancements and social debates, without adhering to mainstream ideological constraints. Subscriptions and single issues are available through the Deseret News store, with bundles for annual access priced around $25 for 2024 editions. This magazine distinguishes itself by fostering thoughtful discourse, including critiques of cultural trends and endorsements of empirical approaches to policy, aligning with the Deseret News' commitment to conservative-leaning, faith-informed commentary. Past issues cover themes like , ethics, and perils, providing subscribers with curated insights not typically found in daily news cycles.

Competition and Rivalries

Historical Antagonism with

The emerged as a direct rival to the Deseret News in the late , originating from a within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). In 1868, former LDS members William S. Godbe and Elias L.T. Harrison, influenced by spiritualist ideas encountered during a trip to New York, launched Utah Magazine to challenge Brigham Young's economic and political dominance over , positioning it against the church-controlled Deseret News. After their for in October 1868, the publication evolved into the Mormon Tribune in 1870, explicitly advocating reforms and criticizing church policies, which the Deseret News defended as essential to Mormon . By 1871, under new ownership, it became the , intensifying opposition by decrying , theocratic rule, and church economic monopolies, while the Deseret News upheld these as divinely sanctioned. The rivalry escalated into personal and ideological warfare during Utah's push for statehood, with the Tribune aligning with federal anti-polygamy campaigns and Republican interests to block admission until Mormon practices ended. In , Kansas investors acquired the , sharpening its anti-Mormon stance and portraying the Deseret News as a propaganda arm of , whom it accused of corruption and despotism. The Deseret News countered by labeling the as agitators undermining pioneer achievements, fostering a divided press landscape where the championed and the News conservative faith-based reporting. Early confrontations occasionally turned violent, involving threats and physical altercations amid Utah's territorial tensions, though specific incidents remained tied to broader church-federal conflicts rather than isolated staff clashes. This antagonism persisted post-statehood in 1896, as the scrutinized LDS influence in and the News promoted church unity, contributing to Utah's bifurcated media environment. Into the 20th century, competition manifested in aggressive circulation drives and editorial broadsides, with the criticizing church conservatism on issues like liquor laws—exemplified by its 1968 campaign for liquor-by-the-drink reforms, which the Deseret News opposed on moral grounds. Declining ad revenues from overlapping markets prompted the 1952 Joint Operating Agreement (JOA), under which the papers shared printing, distribution, and advertising sales via the Newspaper Agency Corporation while maintaining , effectively tempering outright rivalry but preserving underlying tensions over ideological divergence. The arrangement endured until 2019, when antitrust concerns and shifting economics led to its dissolution, reverting to separate operations amid ongoing perceptions of the Deseret News as LDS-aligned and the as critically independent.

Joint Operating Agreement Mechanics and Disputes

The Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) between the Deseret News and , initiated on April 1, 1952, combined their non-editorial operations to promote economic viability amid competitive pressures in Utah's newspaper market. Under the agreement, the newspapers shared printing, advertising sales, circulation, distribution, and administrative functions, while preserving fully independent editorial staffs and content production. The Deseret News owned the printing plant and presses, allowing the Tribune to utilize these facilities rent-free as a key financial concession. Profits from joint operations were divided according to negotiated ratios, initially favoring the Tribune at 58% to the Deseret News's 42%, reflecting adjustments for circulation and revenue contributions. Amendments to the JOA over decades addressed evolving media economics, including digital shifts, but often sparked contention over profit allocations and control. A 2013 revision, prompted by the Tribune's then-owner Digital First Media, halved the Tribune's profit share to approximately 29%, drawing U.S. Department of Justice scrutiny for potential antitrust issues despite approval. This change included enhanced protections for publication frequency and promotion decisions, with editorial autonomy explicitly safeguarded outside the JOA's commercial scope. By 2016, amid the Tribune's sale to the Huntsman family, a further amendment raised the Tribune's share to 40%, resolving related litigation but underscoring ongoing tensions over financial equity. The JOA generated multiple disputes, primarily revolving around ownership transitions, profit fairness, and antitrust compliance rather than operational mechanics. In 2001, the Deseret News sued Tribune holding and publishing entities, alleging breaches tied to contracts and JOA rights. A 2003 federal case, Salt Lake Tribune Publishing Co. v. AT&T Corp., examined JOA interpretations amid the Tribune's ownership shift from AT&T predecessors, affirming the agreement's purpose in averting monopoly while enabling survival. The 2013 profit reduction prompted a 2014 federal lawsuit by the Utah Newspaper Project—a group of former Tribune employees and community advocates—claiming it undermined the Tribune's viability and violated the original 1952 intent, though the suit was dropped in 2016 after the Huntsman deal. These conflicts highlighted systemic challenges in JOAs, including imbalances from differing editorial philosophies and market declines, without eroding the core separation of newsrooms. Both parties allowed the JOA to expire on December 31, 2020, after 68 years, citing declining print demand, digital distribution's rise, and access to external printing options that obviated shared facilities. Post-termination, each managed independent printing, delivery, advertising, and subscriptions, with the Deseret News emphasizing digital expansion and the nonprofit (since 2019) focusing on donations alongside reduced print frequency. No renewal was pursued, marking the end of collaborative operations without further litigation.

Controversies and Criticisms

Allegations of Church Bias and Lack of Independence

The Deseret News is wholly owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through its subsidiary, a structure that has prompted longstanding allegations of insufficient journalistic and inherent bias toward church positions. Critics, including rival publications, contend that this ownership leads to selective reporting that favors the church's perspectives on social issues, such as family structures and religious liberty, while downplaying internal controversies like financial disclosures or policy shifts on LGBTQ+ matters. The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah's other major daily and a historical adversary, has explicitly positioned itself as an "independent voice" in contrast to the church-affiliated Deseret News, implying the latter's coverage serves institutional interests over objective scrutiny. This rivalry dates to the , when Deseret News originated as the church's official outlet, fostering perceptions of it as a promotional arm rather than a detached source. Under their joint operating agreement since 2000, newsrooms remain editorially separate, yet Deseret News's adherence to church standards—such as rejecting advertisements conflicting with doctrines on morality—reinforces claims of compromised autonomy. Deseret News maintains that its editorial decisions are independent, guided by principles of truth-seeking and rather than direct church dictation, with values "rooted in the teachings espoused by our owner." Independent media evaluators, including and , rate it as right-center biased—reflecting conservative emphases on faith and family—but consistently high in factual accuracy, with proper sourcing and no major fact-check failures in recent years. These assessments suggest that while ownership introduces a predictable ideological tilt, allegations of systemic often stem from ideological opponents, including left-leaning media outlets and ex-church members, whose critiques may amplify perceived flaws without equivalent scrutiny of their own biases.

Responses to Accusations of Conservatism in Media Landscape

Deseret News executives and editorial staff have countered accusations of undue conservatism by highlighting the publication's commitment to principled journalism over partisan alignment, often framing its perspective as rooted in universal values like faith, family, and individual responsibility rather than ideological extremism. In a 2021 opinion piece responding to claims of internal bias, the editorial board noted that while the outlet's coverage reflects the moral framework of its owner, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—which emphasizes traditional family structures and ethical governance—it avoids overt partisanship and prioritizes substantive issues over electoral loyalty. This stance, they argued, allows for critical examination of conservative figures and policies, as evidenced by editorials denouncing Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes's support for the 2020 Texas election lawsuit in December 2020, which deviated from the publication's typical endorsement of Republican positions. Independent media bias assessments have bolstered these defenses, with rating Deseret News as "Lean Right" based on blind bias surveys and editorial reviews conducted through 2023, acknowledging a conservative tilt but commending consistent factual reporting without fabrication. Similarly, classified it as neutral in bias and highly reliable in a 2024 analysis of article samples, attributing any perceived conservatism to thematic focus on and community rather than distortion of facts. Deseret News opinion contributors, such as Boyd Matheson in a 2017 column, have further responded by advocating for "Mormon conservatism" as a distinct, principle-driven that integrates faith-based with pragmatic , rejecting caricatures of blanket partisanship. In addressing broader media landscape critiques—where outlets like Deseret News are sometimes labeled as part of a conservative echo chamber—staff have pointed to instances of intra-conservative scrutiny, including a 2024 article featuring a retired conservative judge challenging unsubstantiated 2020 election fraud claims propagated by some right-wing voices. A 2023 editorial on healing the "fractured conservative movement" called for a unified compass guided by freedom and constitutional principles, implicitly rebuffing accusations of uncritical conservatism by urging self-reflection within the ideology. Media Bias/Fact Check, in its 2024 review, rated the publication "Right-Center" biased but "High" for factual accuracy, noting that story selection favors conservative-leaning topics like religious liberty yet includes balanced sourcing from diverse viewpoints. These responses collectively position Deseret News as a counterweight to perceived liberal dominance in national media, defending its conservatism as an authentic reflection of its audience and ownership values while maintaining editorial rigor.

Achievements and Impact

Longevity, Innovations, and Technological Adaptations

The Deseret News, founded on June 15, 1850, in an adobe shack using a hand-operated Ramage press, stands as Utah's oldest continuously operating business and one of the longest-running newspapers west of the Mississippi River. Over 175 years, it has sustained publication through pioneer migrations, the Civil War, economic depressions, and multiple technological revolutions, adapting from weekly hand-set editions to daily digital delivery without interruption. This endurance stems from its affiliation with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which provided financial and operational stability amid frontier isolation and later market disruptions. Early innovations focused on printing efficiency to meet growing demand in a remote . In , the acquisition of a Hoe cylinder press enabled output of 1,800 papers per hour, a vast improvement over manual methods. By 1897, linotype machines quintupled speed, while photoengraving in 1899 allowed reproduction of images, debuting with coverage of the in 1900. The brought further advances, including wire transmission of photos and text in 1935 and a four-color Hoe press in 1936, enhancing visual and color capabilities. Broadcasting marked a pivotal expansion beyond print. In 1922, the Deseret News launched radio station KZN (later KSL), one of the earliest commercial stations, integrating audio news with print operations. Teletype machines adopted in 1926 facilitated real-time wire service access, accelerating global news integration. Twentieth-century adaptations shifted toward electronics and computing. The 1972 introduction of photo-composition eliminated hot-metal type, while 1983 saw typewriters replaced by ATEX video terminals, ushering in computerized editing. Pagination systems in 1986 and offset presses by 1990 improved design and quality. In 1995, the Crossroads Information Network offered dial-up digital access, predating widespread internet. Digital transformation accelerated in the , with Deseret Digital Media formed to build online platforms separate from print. By , digital users outnumbered print subscribers by nearly 500 to one, prompting a reduction to twice-weekly print editions in 2021 and emphasis on Deseret.com for daily content. Under CEO from 2008 to 2016, a "dual transformation" strategy separated digital operations, innovated revenue streams like , and focused legacy print on core strengths such as community and values-based reporting, enabling survival amid industry revenue declines to levels. This approach prioritized digital-native staff, SEO, and , positioning the Deseret News as a multi-platform entity blending local focus with national discourse.

Recognition, Awards, and Influence on Utah and National Discourse

The Deseret News received its most prominent national recognition in 1962 when reporter Robert D. Mullins was awarded the for Local Reporting under deadline pressure for his coverage of a and at Dead Horse Point, , involving resourceful on-scene reporting amid challenging remote conditions. This marked the newspaper's sole Pulitzer to date, highlighting its capacity for impactful investigative work despite its regional focus and church affiliation. In regional journalism contests, the Deseret News has consistently excelled; for instance, in the 2024 Utah (SPJ) awards, it secured 24 first-place honors across categories including /values reporting, photo essays, and education, alongside a lifetime achievement award for columnist Lee Benson for his over 50-year career. Prior years yielded similar successes, such as 75 total awards (19 first-place) in the 2020 Utah SPJ contest and recognition in the 2023 Online Journalism Awards for collaborative environmental reporting on the . In Utah, the Deseret News wields substantial influence on public discourse due to its status as the state's oldest continuously operating newspaper, founded in , and its alignment with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which owns it through . It shapes conservative-leaning conversations on , faith, , and , often prioritizing empirical impacts over —a trait noted by 19th-century historian as distinguishing it from scandal-driven contemporaries. Circulation and digital reach amplify this, with coverage influencing LDS-majority views on local governance, such as reforms and like the Great Salt Lake's decline, where collaborative reporting has driven legislative attention without relying on partisan narratives. Its right-center stance, as rated by independent evaluators, provides a counterbalance to more liberal outlets like , fostering discourse rooted in religious ethics and traditionalism amid Utah's demographic where over 60% identify as LDS. Nationally, the Deseret News extends influence through its values-oriented national edition, launched in the to emphasize , , , and —core pillars informed by its ownership—reaching beyond to the broader Mormon diaspora and like-minded audiences via syndication and online platforms. This approach, which avoids overt proselytizing while highlighting causal links between personal responsibility and societal outcomes, has garnered readership among conservative and religious demographics skeptical of mainstream media's left-leaning . Studies and polls indicate its role in reinforcing resilience to within LDS communities, attributing this to coverage emphasizing moral foundations over ideological , though its church ties invite scrutiny for potential editorial constraints on controversial topics. Overall, its factual reporting record, rated high by bias assessors, positions it as a niche influencer in national debates on and , distinct from coastal-dominated narratives.

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