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Universal News Service

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Universal News Service
IndustryNews media, journalism
FoundedJuly, 1918
FateMerged with International News Service in August, 1937
SuccessorInternational News Service
HeadquartersNew York, N.Y., USA
Key people
ProductsWire service

The Universal News Service (Universal Service) was a U.S.-based news agency (newswire) founded by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst in 1918.[1]

The Universal News Service was originally established as Universal Service, Inc. to manage the night wire news operations of the International News Service. From the outset, Universal Service aimed to establish a team of renowned journalists and writers based in the United States and around the world. Among the first notable hires were Damon Runyon and Robert W. Ritchie.

In 1918, both the Universal News Service and the International News Service came under the management of King Features Syndicate, which was part of William R. Heart's media organizations and led by Moses Koenigsberg.[2]

In August 1937, Universal Service was consolidated with the International News Service, thereafter operating on a 24-hour basis.[3]

History

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The Universal News Service was established in July 1918, with Julian N. Gerard serving as its president. George T. Hargreaves, who had previously been the news manager for the International News Service, was appointed vice president and general manager. The agency's secretary and treasurer was W. M. Langdon. The Universal News Service was headquartered in the New York World Building.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Universal Service to Cover A.M. Field". Editor & Publisher. 1918-07-06.
  2. ^ Koenigsberg, Moses (1941). King News. F. A. Stokes Company. p. 453.
  3. ^ "Hearst Consolidates Two News Services". The New York Times. 1937-08-15. p. 8.

Further reading

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  • Koenigsberg, M. (1941). King News: An Autobiography. United States: F.A. Stokes Company.