If Jesus were publisher and editor of a daily, twentieth-century newspaper, what would that paper look like? In March of 1900 in Topeka, Kansas, congregational minister Charles Sheldon decided to find out. For one week he took over the publication of the Topeka Daily Capital and attempted to publish it as he thought Jesus would. The result was six complete issues that followed a totally new editorial policy: 1) publish only news important to the righteous development of humanity, 2) be politically non-partisan, 3) advocate for the total extinction of liquor, 4) raise awareness of the selfishness of mankind, 5) express an abhorrence of war, 6) do not take sides on policy matters “which are not clear in my own mind,” 7) influence readers to seek the Kingdom of God, 8) name the writers of articles and editorials, 9) do not publish a Sunday paper.
Did he succeed? Decide for yourself. The complete Sheldon Edition of the Topeka Daily Capital is now available on Kansas Memory.
Additional historic Kansas newspapers are available online through Chronicling America. See the Kansas Digital Newspaper Program page for more information.