A History of Oregon Journalism
Time: Noon to 1:15 pm
Venue: WOW Hall
291 W 8th
Eugene, Oregon
97401
We will meet at the WOW Hall, 291 W 8th. Learn more: https://wowhall.org/about-us/. Walk, ride a bike or take the bus. You may park on the street or in the parking lot of FOOD for Lane County's Dining Room, across 8th from the WOW Hall. A freewill donation acknowledging the Dining Room's generosity may be made at the meeting.
Lunch will be available for $15.
Topic:
Contemporary newspaper readers are apt to complain about how much of today’s news seems unfit to print. They claim that reporting now just deepens political divides. They wonder aloud what happened to the idea that journalists should give unbiased reports of events. They wish that newspapers at the very least should keep readers up to speed on the local happenings. Many former newsreaders have given up entirely, despairing over the possibility of getting balanced reporting useful in civic decision-making.
In this program, writer and historian Bill Sullivan will describe what really did happen in the not-so-good old days of Oregon journalism. He will tell stories of the kind usually associated with the wilder West, not with small-town newsrooms. He will explain why he believes that “Oregon journalism has certainly changed, but….was more divisive in the past, and …may have overcome bigger challenges than those we now face. The one thing that never seems to change is people’s need for news.”
Speakers
Title: Author
Organization:
Website: https://www.oregonhiking.com/william-l-sullivan
Biography:
Bill Sullivan is the author of 24 books, many about Oregon’s hiking trails and natural wonders. In 1985, he hiked from Cape Blanco to Hell’s Canyon, describing his solo adventure in Listening to Coyote. It was named by the Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission in 2005 as one of the 100 most significant books in Oregon’s history. He went on to hike every public trail in the state and published a five-book 100-hikes series, which he updates every year or two. His other works include one series of mysteries and a second about Viking history. He also published a book of short stories set in Oregon. He continues to publish columns about Oregon trails and outdoor adventure ideas in Eugene Weekly. His late father, J. Wesley Sullivan, was the editor of the (Salem) Statesman-Journal, which might explain some of Bill’s fascination with Oregon journalism.
