“Pape recoiled at the term ‘journalist,’ preferring
instead the grittier ‘newspaperman,’ suggestive of a flinty reporter who knew
how to dig deep, hit hard and still craft an elegant sentence. He loved the
rough-and-tumble ferocity of newspapering and was never averse to litigating
for the public’s right to know.
“Pape’s newsroom is famous for the 1928 quotation from his grandfather
he had framed, which began, ‘There are no sacred cows at this newspaper,’ and
ended, ‘No one can keep his name out of our papers if it belongs there.’”
—Tracey
O’Shaughnessy, reporter, “William J. Pape II, editor and former publisher of the Republican-American, dies,” The Waterbury (CT) Republican-American,
April 20, 2019. Pape’s grandfather was editor when the Republican-American won
the 1939 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. (Thanks to alert WORDster Sandra
Banisky)
• Editorial Comment: True, but there are some names I could stand to see less of, Mr. Pape.
• Of Note: The 2020 Pulitzer Prizes were awarded yesterday. Click here.
Elves, Party of Six, Your Table Is Ready
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“I don’t think writers are sacred,
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order, you can nudge the world a little.” —Tom Stoppard
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