  the detroit free press is the largest daily newspaper in detroit, michigan, usa. the sunday edition is entitled the sunday free press. it is sometimes informally referred to as the "freep" (reflected in the paper's web address, www.freep.com). it primarily serves wayne, oakland, macomb, livingston, washtenaw, and monroe counties. the free press is also the largest city newspaper owned by gannett, which also publishes national newspaper usa today. the free press has received ten pulitzer prizes and four emmy awards. the newspaper's motto is "on guard for 183 years." ==history== ===1831â1987: competitive newspaper=== the newspaper was first published as the democratic free press and michigan intelligencer on may 5, 1831. the first issues were printed on a washington press purchased from the discontinued oakland chronicle of pontiac, michigan. it was hauled from pontiac in a wagon over rough roads to a building at bates and woodbridge streets in detroit. the press could produce 250 pages an hour, hand operated by two men. the first issues were  in size, with five columns of type. 
Detroit_Free_Press Gannett_publications Newspapers_published_in_Detroit,_Michigan Publications_established_in_1831 Pulitzer_Prize-winning_newspapers