View source for Company:United Media

{{Short description|Defunct print syndication service}}
{{Infobox company
|name=United Media
| former_names = United Media Enterprises
|image=United Media.jpg
|founder=
|type=Print syndication
|founded={{Start date and age|1978}}, as the merger of United Features and NEA
|defunct={{End date and age|2011}}
| fate = Merged into Universal Uclick
|divisions = Newspaper Enterprise Association (est. 1902)<br />United Feature Syndicate (est. 1919)
| services = editorial columns and comic strips
| hq_location_city = {{wipe|Chicago}}
|location={{wipe|United States}}
|parent=[[Company:E. W. Scripps Company|E. W. Scripps Company]]
}}
'''United Media''' was a large editorial column and comic strip newspaper syndication service based in the United States, owned by the [[Company:E. W. Scripps Company|E. W. Scripps Company]], that operated from 1978 to 2011. It syndicated 150 comics and editorial columns worldwide. Its core businesses were the United Feature Syndicate and the Newspaper Enterprise Association.

==History==
E. W. Scripps started his newspaper career in the 1885, and owned 22 newspapers by 1910. In 1897, he created two companies, the '''Scripps-McRae Press Association''' and the '''Scripps News Association'''. In 1907, he combined a number of news providers into United Press Associations as a rival to Associated Press.

On June 2, 1902, the new '''Newspaper Enterprise Association''' (NEA), based in Cleveland, Ohio, started as a news report service for different Scripps-owned newspapers. It started selling content to non-Scripps owned newspapers in 1907, and by 1909, it became a more general syndicate, offering comics, pictures and features as well.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Monmonier |first1=Mark S. |title=Maps with the news: the development of American journalistic cartography |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tx8XR_6IMeAC&q=%22Newspaper+Enterprise+Association%22&pg=PA82 |access-date=August 28, 2009 |year=1989 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=978-0-226-53411-4 |pages=80–83}}</ref> At that time, it had some 100 features available.<ref name=Hudson>{{cite book |last1=Hudson |first1=Frederick |last2=McClung Lee |first2=Alfred |others=Luther Mott, Frank |title=American journalism, 1690–1940, Volume 4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HFtfsd3wZeUC&q=%22Newspaper+Enterprise+Association%22&pg=PA589 |access-date=August 28, 2009 |year=2000 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-22892-3 |pages=589–590}}</ref>

'''United Feature Syndicate''' was formed in 1919.<ref>Booker, M. Keith. "United Feature Syndicate," in ''Comics through Time: A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas'' ([[Company:ABC-CLIO|ABC-CLIO]], 2014), p. 399.</ref> It became a dominant player in the syndication market in the early 1930s. In March 1930, United Features acquired the Metropolitan Newspaper Service (ostensibly from the Bell Syndicate).<ref name=EP30>"United Feature Syndicate Buys Metropolitan Service From Elser: Both Firms Will Retain Separate Identities, With Elser Remaining as Vice-President — Monte Bourjaily to Direct Both Organizations," ''Editor & Publisher'' (March 15, 1930). Archived at [http://strippersguide.blogspot.com/2010/05/news-of-yore-1930-another-syndicate.html?m=1 "News of Yore 1930: Another Syndicate Gobbled,"] ''Stripper's Guide'' (May 4, 2010).</ref><ref name=Hudson /> And in late February 1931, Scripps acquired the ''New York World'', which controlled the syndication arms of the Pulitzer company: World Feature Service<ref name=Hudson /> and Press Publishing Co.<ref name=EP30 /> (which unlike other syndicates were owned by the paper rather than being separate entities). An April 1933 article in ''Fortune'' described United Feature as one of the "Big Four" American syndicates (along with King Features Syndicate, Chicago Tribune Syndicate, and the Bell Syndicate).<ref name="jh">Jeet Heer, "Crane's Great Gamble", in Roy Crane, ''Buz Sawyer: 1, The War in the Pacific''. Seattle, Wash. : Fantagraphics Books, 2011. {{ISBN|9781606993620}}</ref> United Features and NEA both became successful distributors of newspaper comics in the 1930s.<ref>Ron Goulart, ''The Adventurous Decade''. Arlington House, New Rochelle, N.Y. 1975. {{ISBN|9780870002526}} (p. 26-7,93-5).</ref>

In 1972, United Features Syndicate acquired and absorbed the North American Newspaper Alliance and the Bell-McClure Syndicate into its operations.<ref>Astor, Dave. [https://www.editorandpublisher.com/news/goldberg-to-retire-from-united-media/ "Goldberg To Retire From United Media,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207140944/https://www.editorandpublisher.com/news/goldberg-to-retire-from-united-media/ |date=December 7, 2017 }} ''Editor & Publisher'' (December 17, 2001): "The executive joined United in 1972 when it bought Bell McClure Syndicate and North American Newspaper Alliance, where Goldberg was president."</ref>

In May 1978 Scripps merged United Features and NEA to form '''United Media Enterprises (UM)'''.<ref name=UPIMay1978>{{cite news |date= May 19, 1978 |title= News Features Services Merge As United Media |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2209&dat=19780519&id=XV1YAAAAIBAJ&pg=5442,4579037 |newspaper=United Press International |access-date=2015-02-23 }}</ref><ref>"United Features consolidates," ''The Comics Journal'' #44 (Jan. 1979), p. 17.</ref>

In 1992, United Media donated the Robert Roy Metz Collection of 83,034 original cartoons by 113 cartoonists to the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum.

In 1994, Jim Davis's company, Paws, Inc., purchased the rights to ''Garfield'' (including the strips from 1978 to 1993) from United Feature. The strip is currently distributed by Universal Press Syndicate, while rights for the strip remain with Paws.

On June 3, 2010, United Media sold their licensing arm, along with the rights to ''Peanuts'' and ''Dilbert'', to Iconix Brand Group.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/iconix-brand-group-closes-acquisition-of-peanuts-95534994.html|title=Iconix Brand Group Closes Acquisition of Peanuts|first=Iconix Brand Group|last=Inc.|website=www.prnewswire.com|access-date=March 17, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.licensemag.com/licensemag/Entertainment/Iconix-Forms-Peanuts-Worldwide/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/672956|title=Iconix Forms Peanuts Worldwide - License! Global|website=www.licensemag.com|access-date=March 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304050742/http://www.licensemag.com/licensemag/Entertainment/Iconix-Forms-Peanuts-Worldwide/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/672956|archive-date=March 4, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The Scripps Howard News Service (SHNS) (established 1917) was part of United Media; SHNS went defunct in 2013.<ref name=Bloomberg>[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-11-13/scripps-howard-news-service-will-cease-operation-after-96-years Scripps Howard News Service Will Close Down After 96 Years], Bloomberg News, November 13, 2013. Accessed April 5, 2015.</ref>

On February 24, 2011, United Media struck a distribution deal with Universal Uclick (now known as Andrews McMeel Syndication) for syndication of the company's 150 comic strip and news features, which became effective on June 1 of that year.<ref>[http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/universal-uclick-to-provide-syndicate-services-for-united-media-116811443.html Universal Uclick to Provide Syndicate Services for United Media], PR Newswire, February 24, 2011. <!--accessed February 24, 2011--></ref><ref>[http://www.editorandpublisher.com/Magazine/united-media-outsources-content-to-universal-uclick-64912-.aspx "United Media Outsources Content to Universal Uclick,"]{{Dead link|date=December 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''Editor & Publisher'' (April 29, 2011). <!--accessed April 29, 2011--> {{dead link|date=September 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Of the more than 40 comic strips United Media transferred to Universal Uclick, about 75% of them were United Features strips (as opposed to Newspaper Enterprise Association strips). While United Media effectively ceased to exist,<ref name=WaPost>{{cite news |last=Cavna |first=Michael |date= July 1, 2011 |title= RIP, UNITED MEDIA: A century-old syndicate closes its historic doors|url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/rip-united-media-a-century-old-syndicate-closes-its-historic-doors/2011/07/01/AGThVctH_blog.html|newspaper={{wipe|The Washington Post}} }}</ref> Scripps still maintains copyrights and intellectual property rights.<ref>[http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/universal-uclick-to-provide-syndicate-services-for-united-media-116811443.html Universal Uclick to Provide Syndicate Services for United Media], PR Newswire, February 24, 2011. Accessed February 24, 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.editorandpublisher.com/Magazine/united-media-outsources-content-to-universal-uclick-64912-.aspx "United Media Outsources Content to Universal Uclick,"]{{Dead link|date=December 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''Editor & Publisher'' (April 29, 2011). Accessed April 29, 2011.{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

From 1999 until its 2011 takeover by Universal Uclick, United Media used the Comics.com domain to promote their existing syndicated strips as well as promote new strips and the burgeoning realm of webcomics. (Comics.com also featured editorial cartoons, ''The New Yorker'' cartoons, Snoopy.com, and Dilbert.com.) The site, however, never worked the way it was planned. As cartoonist and former UM editor of acquisitions and development Ted Rall wrote, Comics.com "was the laughingstock of the industry, full of [[JavaScript|Javascript]] gone wild, 404 errors and broken widgets."<ref name=Heidi>MacDonald, Heidi. [http://www.comicsbeat.com/universal-uclick-to-syndicate-uniteds-comic-strips/ "Universal Uclick to syndicate United's comic strips,"] ''The Beat'' (February 24, 2011).</ref> According to Rall, outgoing UM President Doug Stern told his employees "that part of the failure of UM was directly attributable to the company's inability to make money online, that they had tried their best but failed."<ref name=Heidi /> Many involved with the company said that was not the case. Universal Uclick/Andrews McMeel Syndication took over the Comics.com domain, which currently redirects to GoComics.com, the web's largest catalog of syndicated newspaper strips, political cartoons and webcomics, offering free new content every day.

==Syndicated comic strips before June 1, 2011==

=== Newspaper Enterprise Association ===
* ''Alley Oop'' originally by V. T. Hamlin (launched 1932)
* ''Arlo and Janis'' by Jimmy Johnson (launched 1985)
* ''Big Nate'' by Lincoln Peirce (launched 1991)
* ''The Born Loser'' by Art Sansom (launched 1965)
* ''Drabble'' by Kevin Fagan(launched 1979)
* ''Frank and Ernest'' originally by Bob Thaves (launched 1972)
* ''The Grizzwells'' by Bill Schorr (launched 1987)
* ''Kit 'n' Carlyle'' by Larry Wright (1980–2015)
* ''Moderately Confused'' by Jeff Stahler (launched 2003)
* ''Shortcuts'' by Jeff Harris (launched August 30, 1999)
* ''Soup to Nutz'' by Rick Stromoski (2000–2018)

=== United Feature Syndicate ===
{{colbegin}}
* ''9 Chickweed Lane'' by Brooke McEldowney (launched 1993)
* ''Betty'' by Gary Delainey and Gerry Rasmussen (launched 1991)
* ''Brevity'' originally by Guy Endore-Kaiser and Rodd Perr (launched 2005)
* ''The Buckets'' originally by Scott Stantis (launched 1994) — picked up from Tribune Media Services
* ''Cow and Boy'' by Mark Leiknes (2006–2012)
* ''F Minus'' by Tony Carrillo (launched 2006)
* ''Family Tree''<ref>Gardner, Alan. [http://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2007/12/03/first-look-at-signe-wilkinsons-family-tree/ "FIRST LOOK AT SIGNE WILKINSON’S “FAMILY TREE,"] ''The Daily Cartoonist'' (December 3, 2007).</ref> by Signe Wilkinson (January 1, 2008 – August 27, 2011)
* ''Ferd'nand'' by Henning Dahl Mikkelsen (1937–2012)
* ''Frazz'' by Jef Mallett (launched 2001)
* ''Get Fuzzy'' by Darby Conley (launched 1999)
* ''Graffiti'' by Gene Mora (launched May 3, 2011)
* ''Grand Avenue'' originally by Mike Thompson (launched 1999)
* ''Health Capsules'' originally by Dr. Michael Petti and Jud Hurd; then by Bron Smith (launched 1961)<ref>Astor, Dave. [https://www.editorandpublisher.com/news/comic-creator-and-cartoonist-profiles-editor-jud-hurd-dies/ "Comic Creator and ‘Cartoonist Profiles’ Editor Jud Hurd Dies,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113210627/https://www.editorandpublisher.com/news/comic-creator-and-cartoonist-profiles-editor-jud-hurd-dies/ |date=November 13, 2018 }} ''Editor & Publisher'' (September 19, 2005).</ref>
* ''Herman'' by Jim Unger (1975–1992, 1997–2012)
* ''Jane's World'' by Paige Braddock (entered syndication April 1, 2002)
* ''Jump Start'' by Robb Armstrong (launched 1989)
* ''KidCity'' by Steve McGarry (launched 2011) — now known as ''KidTown''<ref>[https://lambiek.net/artists/m/mcgarry_steve.htm McGarry entry], Lambiek's ''Comiclopedia''. Accessed Dec. 21, 2018.</ref>
* ''KidSpot'' by Dan Thompson (launched May 3, 2011)
* ''The Knight Life'' by Keith Knight (launched 2008)
* ''Lola'' by Todd Clark (launched 1999) — came over from Tribune Media Services
* ''Luann'' by Greg Evans (launched 1985) — came over from North America Syndicate
* ''Marmaduke'' originally by Brad Anderson (launched 1954) – came over from National Newspaper Syndicate in c. 1970
* ''Monty'' by Jim Meddick (launched 1985) — originally titled ''Robotman''
* ''Nancy'' originally by Ernie Bushmiller (launched 1938)
* ''Off the Mark'' by Mark Parisi (launched 1987)
* ''Over the Hedge'' by Michael Fry & by T. Lewis (launched 1995)
* ''Pearls Before Swine'' by Stephan Pastis (launched 2001)
* ''Prickly City'' by Scott Stantis (launched 2004)
* ''Reality Check'' by Dave Whamond (launched 1995)
* ''Rip Haywire'' by Dan Thompson (launched 2009)
* ''[[Unsolved:Ripley's Believe It or Not!|Ripley's Believe It or Not!]]'' (launched 1918) — came over from King Features Syndicate{{cn|date=November 2018}}
* ''Rose Is Rose'' by Pat Brady (launched 1984)
* ''Rudy Park'' by Theron Heir and Darrin Bell (2001–c. 2011; moved to Washington Post Writers Group where it concluded in 2018)
* ''Secret Asian Man'' by Tak Toyoshima (entered syndication July 16, 2007)
* ''Tarzan''  originally by Hal Foster (launched 1929)
* ''[[Uncle Art's Funland]]'' originally by Art Nugent (launched 1933) — came over from Bell-McClure Syndicate
* ''Working Daze'' written by John Zakour (launched 2001)
* ''World of Wonder'' by Laurie Triefeldt (launched 2000)<ref>E&P Staff. [https://www.editorandpublisher.com/news/world-of-wonder-celebrates-a-decade-in-syndication/ "‘World of Wonder’ Celebrates a Decade in Syndication,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110040539/https://www.editorandpublisher.com/news/world-of-wonder-celebrates-a-decade-in-syndication/ |date=November 10, 2018 }} ''Editor & Publisher'' (September 2, 2010).</ref>
{{colend}}

==Syndicated editorial cartoons==
* Robert Ariail
* Matt Bors
* Bill Day
* Jerry Holbert
* Mike Lester
* Henry Payne
* Rob Rogers
* Bill Schorr
* Jeff Stahler
* Ed Stein

== Webcomics and web animations ==
These were published on United Media's site and/or Comics.com; many moved to GoComics:
* ''Barkeater Lake'' by Corey Pandolph (early 2004 – January 5, 2007)
* ''Boy on a Stick and Slither'' by Steven L. Cloud (April 2007 – February 2009)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicsbeat.com/boy-on-a-stick-and-slither-goes-to-comicscom/|work=Comics Beat|title=Boy on a Stick and Slither goes to Comics.com|date=2007-04-25}}</ref>
* ''Doctor Fun'' by David Farley (1995–2003)
* ''Jane's World'' by Paige Braddock (launched 2001; entered print syndication in 2002)
* ''Little Dee'' by Christopher Baldwin (2006–c. 2007)
* ''Minimum Security'' by Stephanie McMillan (launched 2007)
* ''Mr. Futz'' (2001)<ref>{{cite web|title=Mr. Futz |url=http://www.comics.com/comics/mrfutz/index.html |website=Comics.com |publisher=United Media |access-date=8 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011007071742/http://www.comics.com/comics/mrfutz/index.html |archive-date=October 7, 2001 }}</ref>
* ''Pearls Before Swine'' by Stephan Pastis (launched 2000; entered print syndication in late 2001)<ref>Pastis, Stephan, ''Sgt. Piggy's Lonely Hearts Club Comic'' (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2004; {{ISBN|0-7407-4807-6}}), p.5: "''Pearls'' was supposed to launch in newspapers on January 7, 2002. But just prior to the launch, the ''Washington Post'' bought the strip and wanted to start running it a week early. Thus, this week of strips [dated beginning 12/31] was quickly put together just for the ''Post'', and this [12/31] strip became the first ''Pearls'' strip, published in exactly one paper".</ref>
* ''Pibgorn'' by Brooke McEldowney (launched March 11, 2002)
* ''Working Daze'' originally by John Zakour and Andre Noel (launched 2001; eventually became print syndicated)

==Syndicated columns==
{{colbegin}}
* ''A+ Advice for Parents Helping Your Child Succeed in School'' by Leanna Landsmann
* ''The Aces on Bridge'' by Bobby Wolff
* ''Among Friends'' by Tad Bartimus
* ''Animal Doctor'' by Michael Fox, D.V.M.
* ''Ask Mr. Know-It-All'' by Gary Lee Clothier
* ''Astro-Graph'' by Bernice Bede Osol
* ''From Consumer Reports''
* ''Cook Well, Eat Well'' by Dana Carpender
* ''Desperation Dinners'' by Beverly Mills and Alicia Ross (columnist)
* ''Eat in and Save'' by Marialisa Calta
* ''First Aid for the Ailing House'' by Henri de Marne
* ''Frugal Living'' by Sara Noel
* ''Dr. Gott'' by Peter Gott
* ''Harper's Magazine''
* ''The Harvard Medical School Adviser''
* ''The Housing Scene'' by Lew Sichelman
* Dick Kleiner
* Morton Kondracke
* Donald Lambro
* Kathryn Jean Lopez
* Gene Lyons
* Harvey Mackay
* Mary Mitchell
* ''Miss Manners'' by Judith Martin
* ''NEA Bridge'' by Phillip Alder
* ''The New Republic''
* ''NextSteps'' by Jan L. Warner and Jan K. Collins
* ''On Nutrition'' by Ed Blonz
* ''On Religion'' by Terry Mattingly
* ''Parent-to-Parent'' by Betsy Flagler
* ''Parenting'' by the staff of Parenting Magazine
* Cokie Roberts and Steven V. Roberts
* ''Salon''
* ''Sense & Sensitivity'' by Harriette Cole
* ''Smart Money'' by Bruce Williams
* ''Soap Opera Review'' by Nancy Johnson (columnist)
* ''Starlight'' <!-- by?? -->
* ''Sweet Land of Liberty'' by Nat Hentoff
* ''Talking Money'' with Jean Chatzky
* ''The Village Idiot'' by Jim Mullen
* ''Tune in Tomorrow'' by Nancy Reichardt
* ''Tune in Tonight'' by Kevin McDonough
* Diana West
* ''Win, Lose & Drew''
* ''World Almanac Databank''
* ''You Be the Critic'' by Bob Habes
* ''Your Birthday'' by Stella Wilder
* ''Your Stars This Week'' by Stella Wilder
* Byron York
{{colend}}

==Syndicated puzzles==
* Today's Daily Crossword
* Today's Sunday Crossword
* KenKen
* [[Sudoku]]
* [[Kakuro]]

==Licensed properties==
* Precious Moments
* Raggedy Ann

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official|http://www.unitedmedia.com}}{{dead|date=November 2018}} — redirects to Andrews McMeel Syndication

{{DEFAULTSORT:United Feature Syndicate}}
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{{Sourceattribution|United Media}}