Innovating News Leader
The Detroit News has always been an innovator among media. Here are some of our journalism "firsts":
First Michigan newspaper to introduce photography in print
First Michigan newspaper to publish a comic strip
First newspaper to hire a full-time photographer
Launched WWJ, the nation's first commercial radio station
Launched The Detroit News Spelling Bee (1921)
Launched Michigan's first aircraft dedicated to news gathering (1929)
Donated the miniature railway system at the Detroit Zoo (1931)
Launched specially designed autogiro aircraft, the first of its kind used for news gathering, aerial photography and emergency distribution of papers. (1931)
The aircraft was given to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn where it is still on display. (1933)
Launched Michigan's first TV station WWJ-TV, now WDIV-TV. (1947)
Sponsored Detroit's first all-boat show (1957)
Science writer Jean Pearson, while on assignment, becomes the first woman to set foot on Antarctica
Launched www.detnews.com in 1995, among the first newspapers to go online