Editing Courier Journal (section)

===Watterson era===
[[File:Editorial Staff of "The Courier-Journal" 1868.jpg|thumb|Editorial staff of ''The Courier-Journal'', 1868]]
Henry Watterson, the son of a Tennessee congressman, had written for ''[[Harper's Magazine]]'' and [[The New York Times|''The'' ''New York Times'']] before enlisting in the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] Army. He became nationally known for his work as ''The Courier-Journal'' emerged as the region's leading paper. He supported the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] and pushed for the industrialization of Kentucky and the South in general, notably through urging the [[Southern Exposition]] be held in Louisville. He attracted controversy for attempting to prove that [[Christopher Marlowe]] had actually written the works of [[Shakespeare]]. He won a [[Pulitzer Prize]] in 1917 for editorials demanding the United States enter [[World War I]].<ref name="presshist">{{cite book|title=The Press of Kentucky: 1787–1994|year=1994|author=Towles, Donald B.|publisher=Kentucky Press Association|asin=B0006P81OQ}}</ref>

''The Courier-Journal'' founded a companion afternoon edition of the paper, ''[[The Louisville Times]]'', in May 1884. In 1896, Watterson and Haldeman opposed Democratic presidential candidate [[William Jennings Bryan]] over his support of [[free silver]] coinage. This unpopular decision upset readers and advertisers, many of whom pulled their support for ''The Courier-Journal''. Kentucky voted for the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] candidate in 1896, the first time in state history, and local political leaders blamed the Courier. Only the popularity of ''The Louisville Times'', which had no strong editorial reputation, saved the newspaper company from bankruptcy. The ''Courier'' supported Bryan in future elections.<ref name="presshist" />

Haldeman had owned the papers until his death in 1902, and by 1917 they were owned by his son, [[William Birch Haldeman|William]], and Henry Watterson.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}