THE WORLD COMPANY
Lawrence, Kansas

When W.C. Simons entered into an agreement with two other men to start a Lawrence newspaper more than 100 years ago, he had no idea he was laying the financial and philosophical foundation for a multimedia company that would some day be one of the most innovative and technologically advanced and locally owned media companies in the United States.

Newspaper. Internet. Cable. Local telephone service. And more.

The World Company is the leading news source in the Lawrence community, employing nearly 600 people in a variety of departments that support all of its multimedia endeavors.

And being on that cutting-edge didn't happen by accident.

Today, it is fashionable for newspaper publishers to call for better ways to serve readers and advertisers. But when Dolph C. Simons Jr., (grandson of W.C. Simons and the editor and publisher of the Lawrence Journal-World since 1962) addressed the issue at a 1991 event celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Simons' family entry into the news business, he sounded like a prophet.

"We believe it is important to look upon our business as an 'information business,' not merely a newspaper or a cable television operation," Simons said. "We want to stay abreast of new developments and be able to deliver news and advertising, as well as other information, however a reader or advertiser might desire."

That easily explains why The World Company has been so aggressive at embracing new technology and ideas.

In 1995, the Lawrence Journal-World became one of the first daily newspapers in the country to formally begin publishing on the Internet.

The company's goal is simple:

To provide fair, accurate and honest information to the community in the quickest and most dependable manner.

The World Company recognizes that lifestyles are changing and strives to offer people information through a variety of media to meet different preferences and needs.

Sunflower Broadband:

http://www.sunflowerbroadband.com

Today Sunflower Broadband serves nearly 80% of all homes in the Lawrence, Eudora, and Douglas County area. Delivering over 200 television channels, high-speed cable modem Internet access, and local and long distance telephone services. A converged news partnership between the Lawrence Journal-World, 6NEWS, and World Online provides our community with an unparalleled local news and information resource for a community of this size.

49 ABC News and Free State Communications:

http://www.49abcnews.com

On August 29, 2005, Channel 49 was purchased by Free State Communications, a privately owned Kansas-based media and communications company. On February 5, 2006, we launched our first local news broadcast since the local news went off the air in 2002.

Other Affiliates:
http://www.ljworld.com - Lawrence Journal World
http://www.freestatestudios.com/ - Free State Studios

Today, along with the Lawrence Journal-World, The World Company owns newspapers in Tonganoxie, Baldwin, Basehor, Bonner Springs, Eudora, Lansing, Shawnee and De Soto in Kansas. A related enterprise created by The World Company, WorldWest Limited Liability Company, owns newspapers in Payson, Ariz., and Steamboat Springs and Craig, Colo.

The company also has branched out into other media. In 1968, the company applied for the cable television franchise for Lawrence and activated service to customers in December 1971. Today, more than 80 percent of the city's households receive cable television and watch locally produced news and feature programming on Sunflower Broadband Channel 6. Sunflower also offers cable television service in Douglas County, Eudora, Tonganoxie, Basehor and Piper.