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John McEncroe John McEncroe i(A139511 works by) (a.k.a. John M'Encroe)
Born: Established: 1794 Tipperary (County),
c
Ireland,
c
Western Europe, Europe,
; Died: Ceased: 22 Aug 1868 Sydney, New South Wales,
Gender: Male
Arrived in Australia: 1832
Heritage: Irish
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1 50 y separately published work icon The Freeman's Journal Catholic Freeman's Journal William Bede Dalley (editor), J. Sheridan Moore (editor), W. Dolman (editor), Thomas Butler (editor), John McEncroe (editor), Michael D'Arcy (editor), Jabez King Heydon (editor), Richard O'Sullivan (editor), 1850 Sydney : 1850-1932 Z1645819 1850 newspaper (194 issues)

The Freeman's Journal was established in June 1850 by Archdeacon John McEncroe as a Catholic newspaper. For much of its life, the Freeman's Journal espoused liberal and non-sectarian views, though it tended to focus mainly on Church and Irish news, rather than on day to day events and political news.

Whilst it was not an official Church newspaper, the Freeman's Journal nevertheless generally supported the official Church line, the exception being during its initial period, when under the editorship of D'Arcy, Moore and then Heydon, it was deeply embroiled in Church politics.

Despite the intentions of its founder, the Freeman's Journal did not always remain aloof from political controversy either. In the later 1860s, under the editorship of radical Irish nationalist Richard O'Sullivan, its strongly sectarian position alienated Catholics and Protestants alike, and following the attempted assassination of H. R. H. Prince Alfred, the Duke of Edinburgh, in Sydney in 1868, it was targeted by the New South Wales Government for its supposed disloyalty. However, its fortunes were restored during Thomas Butler's editorship, when the newspaper returned to a less sectarian, liberal position, and enjoyed a lengthy period of stability and prosperity.

Following Butler's departure, the Freeman's Journal developed political affiliations with the emerging Labor Party. Throughout its life, the Freeman's Journal remained a consistent advocate and supporter of Catholic education.

The Freeman's Journal's successor, the Catholic Weekly notes that the Journal 'was able to draw on the best minds of the day to become an eminently intelligent source, one that was never out of touch with what was happening in the local community. One of its greatest achievements was its work for Catholic education and its tireless (although unsuccessful in its time) crusade against unfair discrimination of denominational schools.' (www.catholicweekly.com.au/)

1 A Word at Parting to Our Friends and Subscribers John McEncroe , 1843 single work column
— Appears in: The Morning Chronicle , 25 November vol. 1 no. 14 1843; (p. 2)
1 To the Friends and Subscribers of the Chronicle John McEncroe , 1843 single work column
— Appears in: Australasian Chronicle , 4 October vol. 5 no. 601 1843; (p. 2)
1 Untitled John McEncroe , 1843 single work column
— Appears in: Australasian Chronicle , 2 August vol. 5 no. 583 1843; (p. 2)
1 Untitled John McEncroe , 1843 single work correspondence
— Appears in: Australasian Chronicle , 23 February vol. 4 no. 515 1843; (p. 2)
This correspondence, written by John McEncroe on the direction of the Vicar-General [Francis Murphy(1795-1858)], criticises the editorial policy of the Australasian Chronicle editor W. A. Duncan, specifically his comments on politics which have 'been the means of sowing discord among numbers of the same communion'. The correspondence threatens the withdrawal of funds if the newspaper continues to be a 'political firebrand, or a rock of dissension'. The direct result of the letter was the replacement of Duncan as editor with John McEncroe.
1 8 y separately published work icon The Morning Chronicle John McEncroe (editor), Michael D'Arcy (editor), 1843-1847 Sydney : Michael D'Arcy , Z950527 1843-1847 newspaper (68 issues)
1 37 y separately published work icon The Australasian Chronicle W. A. Duncan (editor), John McEncroe (editor), Sydney : 1839-1843 Z950525 1839-1843 newspaper (249 issues)
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