Newspaper where Twain got start is revived

RENO, Nev. -- The historic Nevada newspaper where Mark Twain cut his journalistic teeth is back in publication for the first time in three decades, and its owners plan to uphold tradition by offering more than just real news.

The Territorial Enterprise was revived as an online and monthly print publication this week by Capitol Publishing Group, the parent company of a weekly newspaper in Jefferson City, Missouri, that focuses on politics and government.

Samuel Clemens, Twain's real name, assumed his pen name and developed his penchant for western tall tales when he was a reporter from 1862 to 1864 at the feisty newspaper in Virginia City, about 20 miles southeast of Reno.

The Territorial Enterprise, based by its new owners in nearby Carson City, plans to feature yarns in keeping with Twain's spirit, and cover politics, government, business and culture across the state.

"For the most part, the news content will be professional, solid reporting," editor Elizabeth Thompson said.

"Sprinkled in and among that we intend to have fun with fictional and partly fictional stories from time to time."

Ron James, former Nevada state historic preservation officer and author of four books on Virginia City, said the Territorial Enterprise was one of the most prestigious newspapers in the West in the 1860s and 1870s because of its serious coverage of mining in one of the richest mineral troves ever: the Comstock Lode.

Twain was among a group of talented journalists at the newspaper who perfected the art of the western tall tale with articles that became legendary for their wit, he added.

Thompson referred questions about the newspaper's new owners to Scott Faughn, publisher of both the Territorial Enterprise and The Missouri Times. He did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Faughn, a former mayor of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, was a campaign manager for Rod Jetton, a Republican who served as Missouri House speaker from 2005 to 2009 and now co-owns the Jefferson City, Missouri, newspaper.

Faughn was convicted in 2007 on three felony counts after he was accused of forging checks on an account for a highway expansion in Southeast Missouri. He was fined $1,500.