The Great Depression was a transformative era for American journalism. It was a time of “boom and bust”—while many storied city press clubs collapsed under financial strain, the industry itself underwent a radical shift toward professionalization and unionization.
Here is the history of how these institutions navigated the 1930s.
1. The Decline of Local Press Clubs
Before the 1920s, many cities had robust Press Clubs—social organizations where journalists gathered to drink, network, and exchange leads. The Depression hit these clubs hard:
- Dissolution: High-profile organizations like the Chicago Press Club and the Los Angeles Press Club effectively ceased operations or disintegrated during the 1930s due to lack of funds and the closing of several daily papers.
- The National Press Club Exception: One of the few to thrive was the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. In 1932, then-President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke there, initiating the famous “newsmaker luncheons” that turned the club into a major political stage.
- Post-War Rebirth: Most city press clubs that exist today are actually “re-foundations” from the late 1940s, as the original Depression-era versions didn’t survive the economic slump.
2. The Rise of the American Newspaper Guild (1933)
Perhaps the most significant development was the shift from “social clubs” to “labor unions.”
- Professionalization: As newspapers laid off thousands of workers, journalists realized they were “white-collar slaves” rather than just a bohemian elite.
- Heywood Broun: In 1933, columnist Heywood Broun founded the American Newspaper Guild. It provided a collective voice for reporters, securing the first-ever contracts for minimum pay, overtime, and paid vacations—benefits that were unheard of in the “rowdy” days of 1920s journalism.
3. The “Press-Radio War”
During the Depression, newspapers faced a terrifying new competitor: Radio.
- The Struggle for Speed: Radio could report news instantly, making the “Extra” edition of newspapers nearly obsolete.
- The Biltmore Agreement (1933): In an attempt to protect their business, newspaper publishers pressured radio stations to limit their news broadcasts to twice a day—only after the papers had hit the stands. This “truce” eventually failed as the public’s hunger for immediate news during the economic crisis was too great.
4. Notable Newspapers & The “Black Press”
Despite the economic crash, specific sectors of the press played vital roles in community survival:
- The Chicago Defender: As the most influential Black newspaper in America, it reached its peak circulation in 1929. While it suffered during the Depression, it remained a crucial “racial watchdog,” documenting the disproportionate impact of the crash on Black communities.
- Labor Newspapers: Radical papers like the Voice of Action emerged, offering “primers” for anti-eviction organizers and reporting on labor strikes that mainstream, business-aligned papers often ignored.
Key Figures of the Era
| Person | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Heywood Broun | Founded the American Newspaper Guild; transformed journalism into a protected profession. |
| Walter Lippmann | Became the highest-paid columnist in America, interpreting the Depression’s politics for millions. |
| Dorothy Thompson | A leading woman foreign correspondent who accurately warned of the rising Nazi threat in Europe. |