About the Columbia Tribune

The Columbia Daily Tribune, commonly referred to as the "Columbia Tribune" or the "Tribune," is one of two daily newspapers in Columbia, Missouri. It is also the only daily newspaper in Columbia, Missouri that has circulation verified by the Audit Bureau of Circulations, and has been a member of ABC since 1915. Although written to serve the Columbia metro area it is the most widely circulated newspaper in Mid-Missouri. The paper is a broadsheet delivered evenings Monday through Friday and mornings on Saturday and Sunday.

The Tribune was founded in 1901 as the first daily newspaper in Columbia. Before 1901, news was offered by three weeklies, the Missouri Intelligencer, The Columbia Patriot and The Columbia Statesman. In 1905 the Waters/Watson family bought the newspaper. Edwin Watson operated the Tribune until 1937, when he passed control to his nephew, H.J. Waters Jr. In 1966, Hank Waters succeeded his father and continues to operate the Tribune to this day.

As of June 2008, daily control of the newspaper falls to several members of the Waters family: Associate Publisher Vicki Russell, who is married to Hank Waters; General Manager Henry J. "Jack" Waters IV; Vice President Mary Waters; and Vice President, Interactive Media Andrew Waters.