Description
Automotive News is a weekly print newspaper written for the automotive industry, primarily individuals associated with automobile manufacturers and automotive suppliers. Based in Detroit and owned by Crain Communications Inc, Automotive News is considered the newspaper of record for the automotive industry. The brand has a team of more than 55 editors and reporters worldwide.
The company is headquartered at 1155 Gratiot Avenue in downtown Detroit.
History
George Slocum had felt for years that the auto industry needed a trade newspaper and in 1925 he secured the financial backing to start one. Automotive News started as Automotive Daily News Slocum Publishing issued the first issue in New York on August 27, 1925, Slocum as its Detroit advertising manager. The chief backer of Automotive Daily News was Bernarr Macfadden.
In 1933, Slocum purchased the other investors' interest, moved the paper to Detroit and changed from publishing fives times a week to twice a week - Wednesday and Saturday. He dropped the midweek edition in June 1938, and with the June 4 issue changed the paper's name to Automotive News. Slocum also reduced the subscription price from $6 to $4 per year. In 1939, he changed the publication day to Monday.
Circulation was 5,000 when Slocum moved the paper to Detroit. It grew to 12,000 at the beginning of World War II but fell to 8,748 during the war. During, 1942-45 when there was no auto industry, Automotive News retained 73 percent of its circulation. From 1936, Pete Wemhoff served as managing editor, editor, publisher and general manager during the next 35 years.
Slocum Publishing Co, ran the publication until 1971, when Crain Communications purchased it. Keith Crain became publisher and editorial director.
Today, Automotive News is part of Crain Communications' Automotive News Group. Keith E. Crain is editor-in-chief of Automotive News and chairman of the board of Crain Communications. Jason Stein is the publisher.
