Category Archives: editors

Happy Birthday, Mr. Pulitzer

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Bob Stepno

Publisher Joseph Pulitzer — of the New York World and St. Louis Post-Dispatch — was born on April 10 (in 1847), which is as good an excuse as any to offer two versions of his biography as presented to radio … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, 19th century, editors, New York City, newspaper crusades, publishers, Pulitzer Prize, true stories | Leave a comment

Who would want a newspaper for a wedding present?

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Bob Stepno

Two recent journalism school grads, Betty and Henry Beetle Hough, that’s who. Their adventure is explored in this week’s radio program, “Once More the Thunderer.” Some context: My “Portrayal of the journalist in popular culture” students are watching “Teacher’s Pet” this … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, 1950s, editors, journalism, local news, newspapers, publishers, romance | Leave a comment

The most beautiful newspaper reporter on radio

Posted on September 9, 2012 by Bob Stepno

“Give me a chance, just give me a chance, and I’ll be the best male Jane Arden in the racket.” — Jerry Delaney, the newspaper’s cub reporter Clearly, she was inspiring! Jane Arden was a long-running comic strip about an … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, crime, editors, journalism, movies, radio, reporters, soap opera, women | 2 Comments

A phone call, shoe-leather and compassion turn a story into a crusade

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Bob Stepno

Call Northside 777 “Well, it made a pretty good yarn, I guess. Y’know — ‘Mother slaves to save $5,000, offers it to clear her son.’ I told myself it was all in a day’s work…” — Reporter Mac McNeal About … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, adaptations, editors, journalism, movies, newspaper crusades, radio, reporters, reporting | Leave a comment

Stanley, meet Livingstone; America, meet modern journalism

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Bob Stepno

“This isn’t the other papers… I’m going to teach everybody in the cities, on the farms, on the frontiers to like important news. This country’s growing up… It doesn’t want any more colonial gazettes with local gossip, but big newspapers … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, 19th century, cavalcade, editors, foreign correspondents, historical figures, Horace Greeley, journalism, newspapers, publishers | Leave a comment

Newspapers as Madness: Is Bob Ready to Take Control?

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Bob Stepno

“You wouldn’t have made a bad detective, either of you” — ex-police chief to editors Betty & Bob In last week’s eighth episode in our 16-part “Betty and Bob” story, crusading editor and publisher Bob Drake hired a former police chief … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, editors, journalism, newspaper crusades, political corruption, publishers, radio, soap opera | Leave a comment

What’s a ‘batch-i-naylian orgy’? Ask Abby

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Bob Stepno

About half-way through this Cavalcade of America radio profile, a libelous attack on suffragist newspaper publisher Abigail Scott Duniway sends her off to the dictionary to find out more about the lies a competing newspaper has been telling about her. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, 19th century, cavalcade, editors, historical figures, true stories, women | Leave a comment

Emotional woes and courage of a newspaper family

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Bob Stepno

“Bad enough to give up something that’s meant your whole life, running a newspaper, but when I can’t even get a copy of it to read!” — Bob Drake, publisher No wonder publisher Bob Drake has a temper tantrum when … Continue reading →

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Journalists make good neighbors

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Bob Stepno

This week’s “Betty and Bob” episode, Anita Rusack escapes from her father, finds the journalist couple providing a refuge — and sandwiches — for the young daughter of their neighbor, who apparently went mad after the death of his wife. … Continue reading →

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‘There’s Murder in the Air Tonight…’

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Bob Stepno

As with the last episode, you can push past the opening two minutes of syrupy music to get to the 13 minutes of action in Neighbor Shoots Deputy Sheriff, the second installment in our continuing story from the 1930s radio … Continue reading →

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