Knowledge (XXG)

States News Service

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316:. Despite Meskill's outright denial, the fledgling news service ran the story, resulting in widespread coverage in Connecticut. Although Meskill persistently refuted the allegations, he eventually did announce his decision not to seek another term, with Nixon nominating him for the judgeship shortly before resigning due to the 575:
The now-defunct States News Service once filled the gap for many papers, which could pay a fee to buy all or part of a reporter's time. Working directly with the clients, States reporters covered Washington developments for newspapers around the country. "It used to be if we closed this bureau, San
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With the sale, Schwartz, who stayed on as chief editor, planned on expanding States' products into the information database business, eventually becoming "Washington's leading information source on how the cities, states, and specific industries are individually affected by the federal government."
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By early 1982, States had 25 employees and was providing Washington coverage for about 80 newspapers. Despite this, and despite paying its writers extremely low rates (about $ 8,000 a year in 1978), States News Service was bankrupt: although it collected approximately $ 30,000 per month from client
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In 1978, client papers were charged between "$ 75 to $ 300 a week, based on circulation and need." In 1993, States' rates were from $ 50 to $ 800 a week per client. In either case, this was much less expensive than the cost of a single salaried Washington-based reporter. Most States News Service
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has established a modest niche by printing wire-service updates on national and international developments for people who, Mr. Schwartz said, are lost in the "news blackout" of business travel. Mr. Schwartz says the newspaper has made a modest amount of money with advertisers like
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wrote about the agency in a 1993 magazine profile, "Schwartz hired new reporters and somehow kept the ship afloat. He had become quite accomplished at wheedling money out of newspaper editors with heartfelt appeals about the importance of localized Washington news."
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reporters were "hungry" — just starting out in the field, and willing to work long hours. Subscribing newspaper editors were generally pleased with the coverage they got, though some complained about the fluctuating quality of the writing and reporting.
247:, "their general performance and how they are voting. This is particularly important because many papers around the country have tended to take Congressional press releases ... and reprint them as news without doing any hard reporting on them." 438:
loaned States News Service $ 1 million, enabling the agency to keep going. "But the 1990 recession knocked him for another loop. As editors tightened their belts, States lost 50 papers and $ 750,000 worth of business."
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markups, States sold information to newspapers, lobbyists, and corporations. Furthermore, The New York Times Co. had forgiven the balance of its $ 1 million loan in exchange for free use of States stories on the
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against States News Service, claiming that States owed nearly $ 300,000 in back income and employment taxes dating back to December 1998. Schwartz announced that he was considering selling the service's
350:, which had five reporters. With the acquisition, States boasted a client list of 77 newspapers in nine states and a readership of 3.7 million — at that time more than the combined circulation of 288:
Disheartened by what he perceived as inadequate local coverage of congressional affairs, Schwartz resigned from his position and, with Howard Abramson, a friend from New Haven, established the
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He imagined creating an "information bank" that could also "be sold to radio and television stations, cable systems, special interest magazines, and the government and corporate fields."
292:. Operating from Schwartz's modest D.C. residence, equipped with two second-hand Senate desks, two phone lines, and a slow telecopier, they initially had only two clients — the 472:...promotes itself as the nation's first hourly newspaper. Assembled in Washington and sent by computer to local print sites, it comes out every hour, from 4 P.M. to 9 P.M.... 1257: 1207: 218:
The reporters keep in touch with staff members in various Federal agencies for news of interest to localities. In one case, a reporter learned from staff members at the
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papers, the organization was spending more than $ 50,000 a month on payroll and other expenses. By that point, States was $ 700,000 in debt — "creditors include the
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lamented the lack of coverage of the federal government from a local angle, specifically mentioning the States News Service as a previous example of that practice:
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After purchasing his partner's stake, Schwartz expanded the service's reach by acquiring newspaper clients in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. With a staff of four,
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and Information Technology Group, a division of the conglomerate Indian Head, Inc. Schwartz received $ 10,000 and relief from most of the organization's debts.
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States News Service's strategy was to concentrate on the local angles of national stories. Examples of these kinds of stories were described in a 1978 profile:
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that a mysterious "green grunge" had developed in some nuclear plants, posing a potential danger of leakage of radioactive material. This made good copy in
415:, and losing $ 1,000 a day. In February 1983, SNS Ventures announced it was going to shut down States New Service while Schwartz looked for new buyers. 755: 1123: 557:) on the backs of restaurant receipts ("taking advantage of the 'virtual news blackout' when diners (hopefully) stop using their mobile device"). 486: 174: 1143:"Endangered Species: Many newspapers are laying off the reporters who monitor the federal government from a local angle. The cost could be steep" 698:"Wanted: Someone to Go Down in the Perfect Storm: Long-suffering States News seeks reporters undaunted by the prospect of a 'hazardous journey.'" 883: 1104: 485:
By 1993, the agency was on more solid ground financially, in large part thanks to its database business. With 15 employees recording
999: 306: 285:, he observed that Connecticut newspapers were routinely publishing his handouts as news stories without substantial alteration. 1252: 720:"THE MEDIA BUSINESS: Press Notes; Between the Idea of a CNNNewspaper Alliance and the Reality Falls the Shadow of Ted Turner" 219: 1247: 952: 397: 576:
Diego would have that option of having somebody from States watch them, but that's not there anymore," Condon says.
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By 1978, States had ten full-time reporters and was expanding. For $ 1,300, Schwartz acquired a rival agency, the
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that operated from 1973 to 2004. Run by Leland J. Schwartz (b. 1949), the agency provided coverage of
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Despite Schwartz's ambitions for the agency, however, it continued to face numerous challenges: a
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In late February 1982, Schwartz sold States News Service to SNS Ventures, a joint venture of the
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passengers traveling between New York, Washington, D.C., and Boston. As described in a 1993
170: 1232: 616: 448: 371:, the District government, and the telephone company," as well as Schwartz's own parents. 233:, postal section did not make much of a national splash, it was front page news for the 1050: 648: 526:
By May 2003, States had only three full-time reporters; down from 40 a decade earlier.
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for regional newspapers without their own D.C. bureaus. Later it expanded into the
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under that name appears to bear no connection to Leland Schwartz's news agency.)
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and others that aim at the affluent audience of 5,000 shuttle customers daily.
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Editor & Publisher, States News Service: Jun 1973 - Jun 2004: 31 yrs 1 mo
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Lohr, Greg A. (Aug 8, 2003). "Lien times continue for States News Service".
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The States News Service closed in June 2004. (A later program organized by
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intended to resign and receive a federal bench appointment from President
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Lohr, Greg A. (Mar 21, 2003). "Tax lien forces States to weigh sale".
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Schwartz had previously tried selling the business to such suitors as
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was a national story, but the fact that part of it was undertaken at
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States News Service was co-founded by Leland Schwartz, a native of
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Their early endeavors included a significant story claiming that
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C.I.A. program to test the behavior of people who had taken LSD
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States News Service was also valued for its coverage of local
553:, the service printed the "latest news" (downloaded from the 456:. With new information hourly, the packet was distributed to 756:"Sale of Small News Service in Capital to Have a Big Effect" 149: 884:"The States News Service was purchased Wednesday by a..." 860:"Bankruptcy Reorganization Sought by States News Service" 229:
And while the closing of 14 rural post offices in the
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But, as 573: 470: 195: 1105:"A future for news at high-brow restaurants?" 1079:"States News Service: On the C-SPAN Networks" 656:, late 1970s (also served as managing editor) 91:1331 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 524 North, 8: 1163:"States Staff // States Alumni: 1973 - 2000" 226:, where two of these reactors are situated. 19: 882:United Press International (Feb 24, 1982). 793: 791: 541:In 2013, Schwartz and former NPR president 928:"FIRST ON-THE-HOUR NEWSPAPER TO TAKE WING" 903: 901: 899: 897: 895: 893: 853: 851: 849: 847: 845: 789: 787: 785: 783: 781: 779: 777: 775: 773: 771: 181:business and an "hourly newspaper" called 18: 877: 875: 820: 818: 749: 747: 745: 743: 741: 739: 737: 735: 733: 713: 711: 691: 689: 205:was the more important page one news for 1258:News agencies based in the United States 1141:Dorroh, Jennifer (Dec 2008 – Jan 2009). 972:"HOURLY NEWSPAPER WILL TAKE TO THE AIR" 685: 487:U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission 945: 943: 545:introduced a new wrinkle on Schwartz' 65:Leland J. Schwartz and Howard Abramson 7: 910:"States News Will Close, Seek Buyer" 718:Glaberson, William (June 7, 1993). 581:Notable former States staff members 858:Knight, Jerry (February 9, 1982). 489:transactions or writing briefs on 14: 1184:John Geddes (September 9, 2013). 1000:The Washington Post Writers Group 908:Potts, Mark (February 11, 1983). 754:Carmody, Deirdre (May 12, 1978). 1122:Hollister, Sean (Jan 13, 2013). 268:, and a former reporter for the 696:Kosmetatos, Sofia (May 2003). 1: 1103:Wemple, Eric (Jan 10, 2013). 992:"DESKTOP NEWSPAPER TAKES OFF" 956:. Vol. 21, no. 47. 830:"States News Service Is Sold" 220:Nuclear Regulatory Commission 122:Reportage, Document retrieval 1212:The Washington Post Magazine 1206:Rood, Mick (June 18, 1978). 427:New York Times Co. loan and 16:Defunct American news agency 1229:Official website as of 2003 1037:Washington Business Journal 953:Washington Business Journal 398:Pulitzer Publishing Company 392:Acquisition by SNS Ventures 213:The New Brunswick Home News 75:; 20 years ago 49:; 51 years ago 31:serving regional newspapers 1274: 1148:American Journalism Review 933:South Florida Sun Sentinel 702:American Journalism Review 568:American Journalism Review 454:United Press International 442:In 1990, Schwartz created 436:The New York Times Company 537:Later Schwartz activities 337:Capitol Hill News Service 271:New Haven Journal-Courier 508:Internal Revenue Service 411:drive by reporters, the 369:Internal Revenue Service 290:Connecticut News Service 274:and a news assistant at 39:Connecticut News Service 551:PrintSignal Corporation 356:Combined Communications 1253:2004 disestablishments 578: 549:. Forming the startup 483: 266:Greenwich, Connecticut 241: 208:The Newark Star Ledger 189:Overview and structure 93:Washington, D.C. 20004 506:In January 2003, the 413:early 1980s recession 327:came into existence. 801:(October 24, 1993). 307:Connecticut Governor 1248:1973 establishments 1167:States News Service 1109:The Washington Post 914:The Washington Post 865:The Washington Post 808:The Washington Post 803:"LOCAL NEWS HEROES" 380:Washington Post Co. 325:States News Service 280:Connecticut Senator 245:members of Congress 163:States News Service 136:Number of employees 21: 20:States News Service 1231:, archived on the 1022:The New York Times 1002:. October 6, 1991. 835:The New York Times 761:The New York Times 724:The New York Times 517:document retrieval 458:US Airways Shuttle 331:Success and growth 295:New Haven Register 276:The New York Times 203:Rutgers University 197:For instance, the 179:document retrieval 175:federal government 130:Leland J. Schwartz 1186:"Digital Riptide" 1051:"Leland Schwartz" 980:. March 10, 1990. 936:. March 13, 1990. 385:Harper's Magazine 339:, an offshoot of 318:Watergate scandal 236:Erie Morning News 160: 159: 1265: 1216: 1215: 1203: 1197: 1196: 1194: 1192: 1181: 1175: 1174: 1169:. Archived from 1159: 1153: 1152: 1138: 1132: 1131: 1119: 1113: 1112: 1100: 1094: 1093: 1091: 1089: 1075: 1069: 1068: 1063: 1061: 1047: 1041: 1040: 1032: 1026: 1025: 1016:(July 6, 1992). 1010: 1004: 1003: 988: 982: 981: 977:Orlando Sentinel 968: 962: 961: 947: 938: 937: 924: 918: 917: 905: 888: 887: 879: 870: 869: 855: 840: 839: 828:(Feb 25, 1982). 826:Associated Press 822: 813: 812: 795: 766: 765: 751: 728: 727: 715: 706: 705: 693: 672:Kenneth R. Weiss 599:Naftali Bendavid 555:Associated Press 543:Frank Mankiewicz 498:' wire service. 171:Washington, D.C. 156: 153: 151: 83: 81: 76: 57: 55: 50: 22: 1273: 1272: 1268: 1267: 1266: 1264: 1263: 1262: 1238: 1237: 1233:Wayback Machine 1225: 1220: 1219: 1205: 1204: 1200: 1190: 1188: 1183: 1182: 1178: 1173:on Apr 2, 2003. 1161: 1160: 1156: 1140: 1139: 1135: 1121: 1120: 1116: 1102: 1101: 1097: 1087: 1085: 1077: 1076: 1072: 1059: 1057: 1049: 1048: 1044: 1034: 1033: 1029: 1012: 1011: 1007: 996:Chicago Tribune 990: 989: 985: 970: 969: 965: 949: 948: 941: 926: 925: 921: 907: 906: 891: 881: 880: 873: 857: 856: 843: 824: 823: 816: 797: 796: 769: 753: 752: 731: 717: 716: 709: 695: 694: 687: 682: 677: 617:Michael Isikoff 583: 563: 547:The Latest News 539: 521:The Latest News 504: 474:The Latest News 466:The Latest News 449:Financial World 444:The Latest News 432: 429:The Latest News 394: 364: 333: 300:Journal-Courier 262: 257: 191: 183:The Latest News 148: 137: 113:The Latest News 101: 94: 79: 77: 74: 53: 51: 48: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1271: 1269: 1261: 1260: 1255: 1250: 1240: 1239: 1236: 1235: 1224: 1223:External links 1221: 1218: 1217: 1198: 1176: 1154: 1133: 1114: 1095: 1070: 1042: 1027: 1014:Jones, Alex S. 1005: 983: 963: 939: 919: 889: 871: 841: 814: 767: 729: 707: 684: 683: 681: 678: 676: 675: 669: 663: 657: 651: 649:Brigid Schulte 646: 641: 636: 631: 626: 620: 614: 608: 602: 596: 589: 588: 587: 582: 579: 562: 559: 538: 535: 503: 500: 462:New York Times 431: 425: 393: 390: 363: 360: 348:Public Citizen 332: 329: 310:Thomas Meskill 283:Lowell Weicker 261: 258: 256: 253: 190: 187: 158: 157: 146: 142: 141: 138: 135: 132: 131: 128: 124: 123: 120: 116: 115: 110: 106: 105: 102: 99: 96: 95: 92: 89: 85: 84: 73:June 2004 71: 67: 66: 63: 59: 58: 47:June 1973 45: 41: 40: 37: 33: 32: 26: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1270: 1259: 1256: 1254: 1251: 1249: 1246: 1245: 1243: 1234: 1230: 1227: 1226: 1222: 1213: 1210:. 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Index

News agency
www.statesnews.com
news agency
Washington, D.C.
federal government
document retrieval
C.I.A. program to test the behavior of people who had taken LSD
Rutgers University
The Newark Star Ledger
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Connecticut
Erie, Pa.
Erie Morning News
members of Congress
Greenwich, Connecticut
New Haven Journal-Courier
The New York Times
Connecticut Senator
Lowell Weicker
New Haven Register
Connecticut Governor
Thomas Meskill
Richard Nixon
Watergate scandal
Capitol Hill News Service
Ralph Nader
think tank
Public Citizen
Gannett
Combined Communications

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