GONGWER NEWS SERVICE
The Record of State Government Since 1906
Charles Scott Gongwer was a Mansfield, Ohio native who had worked as a political reporter for The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer and Cleveland Press before moving to Columbus as a Statehouse correspondent for several newspapers.
In 1906, he decided to form his own company. He saw a need for a detailed, timely, and, above all, independent account of state government activity.
Mr. Gongwer responded to that need with what was then called the Gongwer Legislative Information Service. He could not have known the company that initially relied on little more than a typewriter and postage stamps would become the nation's longest-operating news service focused solely on state government and political news.
Technology has long since replaced the typewriters and mimeographs Mr. Gongwer used with computers, websites, and electronic databases. What remains unchanged at Gongwer News Service, with offices in Ohio and Michigan, is the founder's commitment to providing readers with the most comprehensive, accurate, timely, and balanced coverage available.
For Mr. Gongwer, reporting, government, and politics were lifelong interests he shared with his brother and political opposite, W. Burr Gongwer. Burr Gongwer, who also began his career as a newspaper reporter, later became a Democratic Party leader in Cleveland.
Regrettably, the earliest copies of Charles Gongwer's reports cannot be found. Bound volumes that date to 1930 and specifically deal with decisions of the Supreme Court of Ohio are maintained in the law library at the Ohio Judicial Center. A copy of the Jan. 5, 1931 legislative report recounts the opening of the 89th General Assembly and the political maneuvering that accompanied it.
To his friends, Mr. Gongwer was "Charley", as evidenced in a handwritten letter (text) received in 1910 from Warren G. Harding. The communication came shortly after the future U.S. Senator and President had lost his campaign to become governor.
"I never deceived you except in one thing, and I'll swear that now. All through the campaign, away deep in my heart, I felt the danger of defeat. It was little less than conviction, but I felt myself duty bound to repress it, and drive cheerfully on. In spite of this, I was not prepared for the sweeping defeat," Mr. Harding said.
Charles Gongwer died in December 1935 of a heart attack after returning from a holiday trip to New York City.
The Plain Dealer described him as "a forceful character and a militant foe of hypocrisy in public life" in an editorial note that referred to the company he founded:
"Through this service Gongwer supplied a large clientele with facts regarding activities and developments in the various branches of the state government. His live interest in politics and politicians never waned. He remained vigorous in his contempt for sham and pretense until the end."
To this day, the commitment of Charles Gongwer continues with publication of Gongwer's Ohio Report and Michigan Report, which began with coverage of the Constitutional Convention in 1961 and followed the next year with reports on state government and legislative activities.
As Gongwer News Service begins its second century, it will continue to provide groundbreaking news reporting and innovative new services to its client base while maintaining its dedication to providing a wealth of state government information to the public.
During this 2006 Centennial Year, Gongwer will offer readers an occasional look back at historical events and key issues that shaped today's Michigan.
Gongwer News Service thanks its subscribers for their loyalty and, as always, welcomes input on scope of coverage and range of services.
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