| DOW JONES HISTORY |
THE LATE 1800s
1882
Dow, Jones & Company (as it was called in the beginning) is founded by Charles Henry Dow, Edward Davis Jones and Charles Milford Bergstresser in a small basement office at 15 Wall Street in New York. The Company starts producing daily hand-written news bulletins called "flimsies" delivered by messenger to subscribers in the Wall Street area.
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| Charles Dow | Edward Jones | Charles Bergstresser |
Dow Jones Newswires is founded.
1883
The Company starts producing the "Customers' Afternoon Letter." It contained a frequent leading item titled, "Morning Gossip."
1884
Dow Jones Indexes is founded.
1887
Dow Jones & Company hired its first out-of-town correspondent, Clarence W. Barron, who operated the Boston News Bureau, a financial news service there.
1889
On July 8, Dow Jones & Company's "Customers' Afternoon Letter" becomes The Wall Street Journal. It contains four pages and sells for two cents; advertising was 20 cents a line. At that time, the Company had 50 employees.
1893
Louise Egan becomes the first woman hired by Dow Jones.
1896
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is officially launched. At that time, it consisted of industrial stocks only.
1897
The "Ticker" was announced in the Feb. 26 issue of The Wall Street Journal.
1898
A morning edition of the Journal was added. Subscribers could now receive both the morning and evening editions of the Journal for $8 a year. Subscribers to the ticker service would receive both free of charge.
The Journal was enlarged to six pages.
1899
The Journal adopted a standard five-column format.
The Journal's "Review & Outlook" column, which still runs in the Journal today, appears for the first time. It initially was written by Charles Dow.
Dow Jones co-founder Edward D. Jones retires from the Company.
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THE EARLY 1900s
1900
Charles Dow elected president of Dow Jones. (NOTE: There is no official record of who was the first president of Dow Jones, since the Company kept no official records before 1900.)
1902
First masthead appears in the Journal, listing the names Charles H. Dow, Charles M. Bergstresser, Thomas F. Woodlock and J.W. Barney, Business Manager. The Company name was listed as Dow, Jones & Co.
Dow Jones co-founder Charles Dow dies.
Clarence W. Barron buys control of Dow Jones, along with Thomas F. Woodlock and Charles Bergstresser.
1904
John W. Barney elected president of Dow Jones.
1905
John W. Barney resigns as president of Dow Jones; Charles Otis elected president.
1907
Dow Jones celebrates its 25th anniversary.
1912
Clarence Barron succeeds Charles Otis, who resigned, as president of Dow Jones.
1914
The Wall Street Journal celebrates its 25th anniversary.
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THE 1920s
1920
Dow Jones co-founder Edward Jones dies.
1921
Barron's, America's premier financial weekly, is founded; its first editor is Clarence Barron.
Clarence Barron hires Kenneth Craven "Casey" Hogate, who shortly afterward became the paper's managing editor and then later became president of Dow Jones.
1923
Dow Jones co-founder Charles Bergstresser dies.
1926
A motor-driven version of the "ticker" was developed by the Dow Jones engineering department.
1928
Clarence Barron dies.
Hugh Bancroft becomes president of Dow Jones, succeeding the late Clarence Barron.
1929
The first issue of the Pacific Coast Edition of the Journal rolls off the presses on Oct. 21, 1929, eight days before the stock-market crash.
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THE 1930s
The Journal's "Review and Outlook" column from page one is moved and established on page eight to create a true editorial page. During the Depression years, the pages of the Journal are enlivened with new, light columns, short features and typographical brighteners.
1930
Dow Jones becomes incorporated in New York. The Company is now known as Dow Jones & Company (with the comma after Dow dropped from the company name).
1931
The magnetic (ticker) machine was phased out.
1932
Dow Jones celebrates its 50th anniversary.
1933
Casey Hogate becomes president and CEO of Dow Jones, succeeding the late Hugh Bancroft.
1934
Afternoon edition of The Wall Street Journal ceases.
Casey Hogate begins a series of changes during the next decade that ultimately result in the metamorphosis of The Wall Street Journal into a new kind of daily newspaper. One of these changes is the "What's News" column, which was created by Bernard Kilgore. By 1942, the design of the front page is solidified, remaining relatively unchanged until April 9, 2002.
1936
Ottaway Newspapers is founded.
1939
The Wall Street Journal celebrates its 50th anniversary.
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THE 1940s
1940
Bernard Kilgore develops his inside-Washington column, which is coined "Washington Wire" by William Kerby, who would replace Kilgore as president of Dow Jones in 1966.
1945
Bernard Kilgore named president and CEO of Dow Jones; Casey Hogate is named chairman.
1946
The Far Eastern Economic Review is founded.
1947
The Journal wins its first Pulitzer Prize, for editorials by William Henry Grimes.
1948
The Journal launches a Southwest edition.
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THE 1950s
1951
The Journal launches a Midwest edition.
1953
Vermont Connecticut Royster wins the Journal its second Pulitzer in the Editorial Writing category.
Because of the NYSE's decision to cease Saturday trading, the Journal ends its Saturday edition that summer, moving to a Monday through Friday distribution schedule.
1957
Dow Jones celebrates its 75th anniversary.
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THE 1960s
1961
Edward R. Cony wins the Journal its third Pulitzer in the National Reporting category.
1963
Dow Jones strategic alliance F.F. Soucy is formed.
1964
The Wall Street Journal celebrates its 75th anniversary.
Norman C. Miller Jr. wins the Journal its fourth Pulitzer in the Local General or Spot News Reporting category.
1965
Louis M. Kohlmeier wins the Journal its fifth Pulitzer in the National Reporting category.
1966
The Wall Street Journal passes one million in circulation for the first time.
William F. Kerby succeeds Bernard Kilgore as president of Dow Jones; Kilgore elected chairman. Mr. Kerby also named chief executive officer.
1967
Bernard Kilgore dies.
Stanley Penn and Monroe Karmin win the Journal its sixth Pulitzer in the National Reporting category.
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THE 1970s
1970
Dow Jones buys the Ottaway newspaper chain, which at the time comprised nine dailies and three Sunday newspapers.
1972
Peter R. Kann wins the Journal's seventh Pulitzer in the International Reporting category.
William F. Kerby becomes chairman of Dow Jones; Warren Phillips is named Company president.
1973
The Far Eastern Economic Review is the first publishing venture in Asia for Dow Jones. The Company buys an initial 40% stake in the publication.
1974
F.F. Soucy Inc. & Partners, Limited Partnership, a majority-owned subsidiary of F.F. Soucy, is formed by Dow Jones and Rexfor.
1975
Warren Phillips becomes CEO of Dow Jones, succeeding William F. Kerby, who remains Company chairman.
Dow Jones buys an additional 9% stake in the Far Eastern Economic Review, bringing its total ownership of the publication to 49%.
1976
The Asian Wall Street Journal is launched, with Peter R. Kann as its first editor and publisher.
1978
William F. Kerby retires as chairman, but remains a board member until 1980; Warren Phillips succeeds him as chairman.
1979
Ray Shaw named president of Dow Jones; Warren Phillips remains chairman and CEO.
The Wall Street Journal becomes the largest paid-circulation newspaper in America.
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THE 1980s
1980
The Journal adds a second section (which will become known as "Money & Investing" in 1988 when the "Marketplace" section is added to the Journal).
Robert L. Bartley wins the Journal's eighth Pulitzer in the Editorial Writing category.
The Wall Street Journal Radio Network is founded.
1982
Dow Jones celebrates its 100th anniversary.
1983
The Wall Street Journal Europe is launched.
Manuela Hoelterhoff wins the Journal's ninth Pulitzer in the Criticism category.
1984
Karen Elliott House (International Reporting) and Vermont Royster (Commentary) win the Journal's 10th and 11th Pulitzers. This is the first time the Journal has won two Pulitzers in the same year.
The Asian Journal is expanded to include — for the first time — a distinct, second section called "Money & Investing."
Daniel Hertzberg and James B. Stewart (Explanatory Journalism) and Walt Bogdanich (Specialized Reporting) win the Journal's 12th and 13th Pulitzers.
1989
The Wall Street Journal celebrates its 100th anniversary.
Peter R. Kann named president, replacing Ray Shaw; also becomes publisher of The Wall Street Journal.
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THE 1990s
1991
Warren Phillips resigns as CEO and is succeeded by Peter R. Kann; Mr. Phillips resigns later in the year as chairman and also is succeeded by Mr. Kann in that role.
Susan C. Faludi wins the Journal's 14th Pulitzer in the Explanatory Journalism category.
The Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition is founded.
1992
In a joint venture with Hearst Corp., Dow Jones launches SmartMoney, The Wall Street Journal Magazine of Personal Business.
1993
Paul Ingrassia and Joseph B. White win the Journal's 15th Pulitzer in the Beat Reporting category.
1995
The Wall Street Journal begins publishing an online electronic supplement to its Money & Investing section, called "Money & Investing Update." It will be known as "The Wall Street Journal Interactive Edition" when it is introduced the following year. It will later become what it is known as today — The Wall Street Journal Online at WSJ.com.
Tony Horwitz (National Reporting) and Ron Suskind (Feature Writing) win the Journal's 16th and 17th Pulitzers.
1996
Alix M. Freedman wins the Journal's 18th Pulitzer in the National Reporting category.
The Wall Street Journal introduces its Interactive Edition, known simply as "The Wall Street Journal Interactive Edition." It will later become "The Wall Street Journal Online at WSJ.com," as it is known as today.
1997
CNBC, an alliance between Dow Jones and NBC Universal, is founded.
The Journal staff wins the publication's 19th Pulitzer in the National Reporting category.
1998
Weekend Journal begins publication as a Friday fourth section in The Wall Street Journal.
STOXX Ltd., a joint venture among Deutsche Boerse AG, Dow Jones and SWX Group, is launched.
1999
Dow Jones and the von Holtzbrinck group agreed to swap minority stakes in The Wall Street Journal Europe and Handelsblatt, Germany's largest business daily. Under the agreement, the two newspapers also have access to each other's news content.
The Wall Street Journal Sunday is founded.
The Wall Street Journal Special Editions is founded.
Factiva, a joint venture of Dow Jones and Reuters, is launched.
Vedomosti, the Russian-language business daily, a joint venture of Dow Jones, Pearson plc and Independent Media, is launched.
The Journal staff (International Reporting) and Angelo B. Henderson (Feature Writing) win the Journal's 20th and 21st Pulitzers.
The Asian Wall Street Journal introduces a third section on Fridays called "Personal Journal."
Wall Street Journal Books, a joint venture of The Wall Street Journal and Simon & Schuster, is founded.
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THE NEW MILLENNIUM
2000
The Wall Street Journal Europe is expanded and redesigned. Networking, a third section dedicated to technology, media, marketing and management is launched.
The Asian Wall Street Journal is expanded and redesigned.
The Journal staff (National Reporting) and Paul A. Gigot (Commentary) win the Journal's 22nd and 23rd Pulitzers.
2001
Terrorists attack The World Trade Center, Pentagon and Pennsylvania on Sept. 11. Dow Jones Newswires is first to report WTC attacks. The Wall Street Journal is published the following day.
The Asian Wall Street Journal launches Networking section.
The Wall Street Journal Europe and The Asian Wall Street Journal launch Weekend Journal, a fourth section on Fridays dedicated to leisure and lifestyle pursuits.
Ian Johnson (International Reporting) and Dorothy Rabinowitz (Commentary) win the Journal's 24th and 25th Pulitzers.
2002
Dow Jones launches "Business Now," The Company's ambitious, long-range strategic plan designed for growth and for building its businesses.
Today's Journal, a key component of the Company's "Business Now" plan, is unveiled on April 9. The $226 million project to add color capacity to the Journal took nearly four years of planning through the efforts of Dow Jones' production, distribution, reporting, editing and advertising staffs. At the same time, the Journal introduces a new thrice-weekly section, "Personal Journal," which provides news, analysis and insight on personal finance, health care and family concerns, travel, consumer electronics and motoring topics.
Karen Elliott House becomes publisher of The Wall Street Journal, succeeding Peter R. Kann, who remains chairman and CEO.
Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl is kidnapped and murdered by terrorists in Karachi, Pakistan.
The Journal staff wins the Journal's 26th Pulitzer in the Breaking News Reporting category.
2003
Dow Jones NewsPlus, a Web-format product enhancement of Dow Jones Newswires, is launched.
Robert Bartley, editor emeritus of the Journal, is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Bush.
The Journal staff wins the Journal's 27th Pulitzer in the Explanatory Reporting category.
Dow Jones acquires Technologic Partners, publishers of VentureWire.
Ottaway Newspapers acquires the Stockton Record (California) for $144 million.
2004
The Money & Investing section of the Journal is revamped, adding new features such as "Tracking the Number" and the "Street Sleuth" series, as well as "Weather Watch," a four-color weather map for business travelers.
In April, Kevin Helliker and Thomas M. Burton (Explanatory Reporting), and Daniel Golden (Beat Reporting) win the Journal's 28th and 29th Pulitzers.
Dow Jones Financial Information Services is founded.
Dow Jones acquires Alternative Investor, a unit of Wicks Business Information that produces newsletters, databases and conferences that cover the venture-capital and private-equity industries.
Dow Jones acquires the German-language, real-time financial newswires and business newsletters of Germany's vwd-Vereinigte Wirtschaftsdienste GmbH (vwd).
The Company's contract with Simon & Schuster for Wall Street Journal Books ends. The Wall Street Journal and Crown Publishers agree to three-year publishing partnership for Wall Street Journal Books.
The Wall Street Journal announces that it will begin publishing a Weekend Edition, starting in September 2005.
The Company announces that the Far Eastern Economic Review will change to a monthly from a weekly format beginning in December 2004.
The Company announces in November that it is buying MarketWatch, Inc., in a deal valued at approximately $519 million. The Federal Trade Commission approves the deal that December.
2005
In January, MarketWatch shareholders approve acquisition by Dow Jones.
In April, Amy Dockser Marcus (Beat Reporting) and Joe Morgenstern (Criticism) win the The Wall Street Journal's 30th and 31st Pulitzers.
In May, the Journal announces the reformatting and redesign of both The Wall Street Journal Europe and The Asian Wall Street Journal as compacts beginning Oct. 17, 2005. The plan also includes renaming the Asian edition The Wall Street Journal Asia, as well as closely integrating both editions with The Wall Street Journal Online.
In May, Barron's launches its first redesign in nearly 11 years, incorporating changes based on more than a year of research with readers and advertisers through surveys and focus groups.
On Sept. 17, the Journal launches Weekend Edition — a continuation of the paper's "Business of Life" coverage — to its circulation of 1.75 million.
On Oct. 11, the Company announces a number of innovative design and content enhancements to the Journal's U.S. print edition to even better serve readers and attract new ones. Some of these enhancements will be introduced over coming months and continue through 2006, culminating in January 2007 with a reformatting of the Journal to a more industry-standard 48-inch web width from its current 60-inch web width.
On Oct. 17, The Wall Street Journal Europe was redesigned and reformatted into an easier-to-read, convenient and accessible compact format.
On Dec. 1, the Fox News Channel said it would start broadcasting in January 2006 "The Journal Editorial Report," a current-affairs program produced by The Wall Street Journal.
2006
On Jan. 3, Richard Zannino was appointed chief executive officer — effective Feb. 1, 2006 — succeeding Peter Kann, who announced his retirement. Mr. Kann will stay on as board chairman until the Company's annual meeting in 2007. Publisher Karen Elliott House also announced her retirement.
In January, Barron's Online — founded in 1997 — was relaunched as a stand-alone subscription product. The site previously had been included as part of a Wall Street Journal Online subscription.
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