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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 17, 2018)
Wallowa County Chieftain News wallowa.com October 17, 2018 A9 History of Oregon newspapering published Newspapering is hard work, requiring of journalists certain ingredients, including curiosity, versatility, principle, patience, diligence and — in heaping quantities — grit. As an abstraction, West- ern journalism is supposed to engage the dialogue of democ- racy, aiming to fulfill Jeffer- son’s ideal of helping to edu- cate “We the People” so they can govern themselves. As a practice, however, it’s generally a messier enterprise (like democracy itself). “Put- ting out the paper” is both high calling and relentless grind: a long game fed by insatiable demands for copy in service of community and culture. It’s all about copy. So comes one of many messages in a new book, “Grit and Ink: An Oregon Family’s Adventures in Newspapering, 1908–2018,” by historian Wil- liam F. Willingham. Focused primarily on two of the state’s premier papers — the East Oregonian of Pendleton and the Daily Astorian — it traces their origins and operations, along with that of their par- ent company, the EO Media Group, which commissioned the project. Willingham deftly chron- icles the story of a parade of publishers, editors, reporters and printers and in so doing recounts the parallel centu- ry-long economic and social development of two distinct corners of the state — a story linked, in this case, by journal- istic and financial interest and outlook. It’s also the tale of commu- nities, controversies and cru- sading editors bearing witness while reporting the news. From the earliest four- page editions of the East Ore- gonian, published in Pendle- ton in 1875 by Mathew Bull, through today’s digital deliv- ery of EO’s statewide array of media properties (including the Wallowa Chieftain), “Grit and Ink” summons the spir- its of pioneering journalists C.S. Jackson, Edwin Aldrich, J.W. “Bud” Forrester and Amy Aldrich Bedford. Their notable contribu- tions to community-building marked their respective ten- ures — and, by extension, their cities and regions. Willingham reports in colorful detail the “modern” histories of Pendle- ton and Astoria, each affected by boom-and-bust economic cycles. As seen through the lens of the daily papers, stories about transportation projects, busi- ness trends, political battles and social changes vied with tales of local characters and catastrophic events — all fod- der for the ever-hungry copy beast. Each paper championed major initiatives (Pendle- ton Woolen Mills, Round-Up, McNary Dam, Astoria-Megler Bridge, Liberty Theater resto- ration), as well as faced uncer- tain times as resource-based industries (whether ranching, farming, lumbering or can- ning) rose or faded over the years. On Dec. 8, 1922, for instance, Astoria’s commercial district burned to the ground, destroying 32 blocks, yet edi- tors of the Budget (the DA’s predecessor) managed to pub- lish an issue the next day on IN BRIEF grams in Wallowa County? For transportation, food bank, nutrition, and emergency programs? Community Connection, a private nonprofit, has several openings for advisory council members. If you’re interested in this volunteer position, con- Advisory council members sought Would you be willing to volunteer to provide leader- ship for senior citizen pro- BOOK REVIEW ‘Grit and Ink’ topic for ‘brown bag’ ABOUT THE BOOK Title: Grit & Ink: An Oregon Family’s Adventures in Newspapering, 1908– 2018 Author: William F. Willingham Publisher: EO Media Group Foreword: R. Gregory Nokes. Preface: Stephen A. Forrester Stats: 6×9-inch format; 30 black and white and 20 color illustrations. 224 pages. Index. a borrowed press. For these newspaper people, Willing- ham notes, the well-being of community is all-embracing. “This volume is at least two things,” says President and CEO of EO Media Group Ste- phen Forrester in the book’s preface. “It is the astonishing array of stories our newspapers have printed — from the Ku Klux Klan’s political offen- sive in Astoria in the 1920s to the Aryan Nation’s attempted incursion into Grant County in 2010. It is also about how our company’s owners adapted to a series of calamities — a downtown’s immolation, the Great Depression, World War II newsprint rationing — and adopted changing technolo- gies, from the earliest wire ser- vices to the digital age.” Published as a company history, substantial parts of “Grit and Ink” are devoted to the nitty-gritty of corpo- rate financials and person- nel changes, to the figures and faces that comprise the life and times of EO Media, which may slow the narrative for some readers. But Willingham’s thrust and tale remain clear. These newspapers, and their found- ers, descendants and employ- ees, have indeed answered the “clarion call” of community tact Connie at 541-426-3840 for more information or an application. it’s time to celebrate. The congregation will host a “thank you” ice cream social Thursday, Oct. 18, in conjunc- tion with resuming monthly bing nights. Bingo starts at 5 p.m. with ice cream served at around 6 p.m. Tours of the windows will be offered. The commu- St. Pius plans ice cream social The new stained glass win- dows are in at Church of St. Pius X in Wallowa and now Longtime Daily Asto- rian publisher and EO Media Group CEO Steve Forrester and author Wil- liam Willingham will dis- cuss Willingham’s lat- est book, “Grit and Ink” during the Tuesday, Oct. 30 Josephy Brown Bag event noon to 1 p.m. at the Josephy Center in Joseph. The book describes the threats presented by the Ku Klux Klan, the Great Astoria Fire of 1922, the Great Depression, the Aryan Nation, the Mal- heur National Wildlife Ref- uge occupation, the Digi- tal Revolution and more. “Grit and Ink” is more than just the story of a family’s 100-year owner- ship of an independent newspaper business. It is the compelling story of a family, the newspaper service: to fly the flag of the First Amendment for all to see. And read. “The purpose of journal- ism,” writes press historian Michael Kirkhorn, “is to harp, nag, offend, appease, investi- gate, obscure, admire, fawn, entertain, clarify, scandal- ize, compliment, revile, sneer, giggle, announce, pronounce, warn, reassure, rake the gutter and set forth ideas with righ- nity is invited to attend. Photo club’s dinner is Oct. 20 Wallowa Valley Photo Club will hold a dinner and program by Mary Edwards 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20. Pro- gram begins at 6:45 p.m. at industry, and the com- munities their newspaper cover, including Wallowa County. It’s a story of chal- lenges, peaks and pit- falls, and of resilience in ever-changing times over a century. Born in Pendleton, Wil- liam F. Willingham is a his- torian and author of sev- eral books and scholarly articles. His 2005 history of Long Creek is “Start- ing Over: Building Com- munity on the Eastern Oregon Frontier.” He has also written widely in the fields of water resources development and archi- tectural history. The Josephy Center’s brown bag series is a free “bring your own” lunch event on selected Tues- days each month. Coffee is provided. teous highmindedness.” No small task. Reviewer John Gaterud, of Wallowa, served as editor of the Blue Mountain Eagle, in John Day, 1978–79, after the East Oregonian Publish- ing Company purchased the paper from the John Moreau family. EO Media still pub- lishes the Eagle as well as the Chieftain. Wallowa Lake Lodge. 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