Distinguished Visitors: An Interview with James Russell Wiggins

Date1968

Can DescriptionsFormer editor and executive vice president of the Washington Post speaks with Brooks Hamilton, head of Univ. of Maine dept. of journalism. Discuss the role of the small town newspaper, also newspaper technology.

Viewing NotesBrooks Hamilton asks James Russell Wiggins about the comparison of Wiggins 1920s weekly newspaper ownership of the Rock County Star and the Ellsworth American he currently owns. Bigger operation... 4:00 On the topic of what is required to be remain in the newspaper business over a lifetime Wiggins says there are many satisfactions, conveying information, public service, influencing events. 8:00 Hamilton asks about the private enterprise that newspapers really are but that claim to be a public service. Wiggins talks about the role of the "fourth estate" and its value as a help that forms intelligent opinions about public affairs. "Society requires someone to stand apart." 10:00 Hamilton asks about the competitive versus monopoly markets for newspapers, and Wiggins discusses the environment of Maine newspapers where single newspapers are often the case in communities. Radio and TV create a check on newspapers, he says, so there really are no monopolies any more. 14:00 Unionization in news industries were discussed. 16:30 Video footage of linotype machine operators and printing presses were shown; 18:30 Off-set print at the Rockland Courier was discussed. 20:00 More video footage of compositors and off-set presses. 21:00 Wiggins discusses the future of "dropping graphite on paper" and Hamilton chimes in with the question of continuing to "distribute paper across the country" 23:00 Hamilton wants to know what Wiggins thinks about the value of research in journalism, and Wiggins talks about libraries and computers, "morgues at the level of quills" 26:00 Hamilton asks about audience research and Wiggins says there is need for readership studies but the value is limited because of self-report. 27:00 Journalism education is briefly discussed. 29:30 Program ends.

• James Russell Wiggins

Contributor

• James Russell Wiggins