Dow Jones & Company, Inc., commonly known as Dow Jones, is a renowned American publishing firm that has been a cornerstone of financial journalism since its inception in 1882 by Charles Dow, Edward Jones, and Charles Bergstresser. The company is best known for publishing **The Wall Street Journal**, **Barron's**, **MarketWatch**, and other prominent financial publications[1][7].
### History and Key Achievements
- **Founding and Early Years**: Dow Jones began as a provider of financial news and statistics. Charles Dow and his partners founded the company, which initially published the **Customer's Afternoon Letter**, a precursor to **The Wall Street Journal**[3][4].
- **Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA)**: The DJIA, introduced on May 26, 1896, is one of the world's oldest and most influential stock market indices. It tracks the performance of 30 major U.S. companies across various sectors[5][8].
- **Expansion and Diversification**: Over the years, Dow Jones has expanded its reach through the launch of new publications and services, including **Professional Investor Report**, **Asia Business News**, and **European Business News**[7].
### Current Status
Today, Dow Jones is owned by News Corp, a global media conglomerate led by Rupert Murdoch[1]. The company continues to play a significant role in financial journalism and data services. Dow Jones has successfully transitioned from print to digital platforms, offering a wide range of financial information services and community newspapers[7].
### Notable Aspects
- **Dow Theory**: Charles Dow's work laid the foundation for the "Dow Theory," which provides insights into stock market movements and trends[6].
- **Innovations**: Dow Jones has been at the forefront of financial journalism innovations, including the transition to online platforms with **Wall Street Journal Interactive**[7].
- **Global Reach**: The company's publications and services are