From Western Union News Vol 29, No. 2 March 1996

With this issue, Western Union News concludes more than 28 years of publication, providing employees with news and information on activities throughout the company.

The merger of First Financial Management Corporation into First Data Corporation has resulted in absorption of Western Union Financial Services, Inc., by FDC's Payment Services Group, which is headquartered in Denver.  While the Western Union brand name will continue in use to identify the merged company's money transfer and other services, the corporate organization that has been known as Western Union for the past 140 years no longer will exist.

This newspaper is the last in a series of company-produced publications for Western Union employees that began in 1867 with the first issue of The Journal of the Telegraph.  in 1914, the Journal was succeeded by our early namesake, Western Union News.  That publication was followed in 1925 by Dots and Dashes, which in turn was replaced in 1948 by FactoGram, a modest newsletter that lasted four years, until the introduction of Telegraph News, a bi-monthly magazine published from 1952 to 1967.

The first issue of the modern Western Union News usually referred to within the company as WU News -- was published in November 1967, with a circulation of 25,000.  The publication kept employees informed about the company's business activities and its role in industry developments.  Just as important have been the reports of individual achievements of employees on and off the job, and what probably has been the all-time best-read feature -- the listing of promotions, service awards and retirements that has enabled employees to follow the progress of their associates throught the company.

Western Union News initially was published every other week and was mailed to employees' homes.  Later, when Western Union's area organization was established, the paper became a monthly and included inserts carrying local news from the new geographical areas.  Some years later the area inserts were discontinued, and for a time the paper included a four-page insert of local news.  Since the mid-eighties, when postage costs became prohibitive, the paper has been distributed at work locations.  In 1989, the new masthead incorporating the company's new logotype trademark appeared over a band of yellow, the first time a second color was used.

The 342 issues of WU News that have been published since 1967 provide a comprehensive history of Western Union during that time.  Every notable event has been covered.  Also included were the human-interest stories that provided glimpses into the lives of many of the thousands of people who have been with the company over the years and have devoted a significant part of their lives to their jobs at Western Union.