It was founded by unions, which were calling on Portlanders to cancel their subscriptions to the city's two existing daily newspapers, as a weekly paper.

[1][4] It was reported to be the first daily newspaper established in a major metropolitan area of the U.S. Pacific Northwest in at least 50 years.

The Oregonian and the Journal published a "joint, typo-marred paper" for six months until they had hired enough nonunion help to resume separate operations.

[10][11] Production and business operations of the two newspapers were consolidated in The Oregonian's building, while their editorial staffs remained separate.

[12] The Journal continued as a separate publication (though its Sunday edition ceased) until 1982, when Newhouse merged it with the Oregonian.