As the Black Cloud Lifts . . .
Is it all gone with the wind?
From former editor Nigel Wade, in 1997 (said on WTTW): “I’ve spent ten years in communist countries, and I don’t believe collectivism works.”
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The Sun-Times is no stranger to turmoil, but by any standard the recent developments have been remarkable: Black and Radler humiliated and ousted, Cruickshank promoted from vice president of editorial to publisher, and everything Hollinger owns possibly going up for sale. A veteran Sun-Times writer is asked what his colleagues make of all this. “I think the positive feelings outweigh the negative ones,” he responds. “The sense of fear goes up or down in direct proportion to tenure here. Those of us who’ve been here through four or five changes of management take it in stride. Others don’t know what it means for them. But overall, despite the uncertainty, people are so thrilled that these bastards are finally out. And even if Cruickshank’s tenure is brief–and it probably is–there’s a guy on seven [the publisher] whose heart is in editorial and who’s never made a secret of his frustrations at Radler’s preventing him and [editor in chief Michael] Cooke from doing better things.”
“I think I’ll have more reporters,” he says. “The new publisher says I will. My new boss. I’m delighted for him. He believes that good journalism is good business, and this is my view. The very best newspapers in America journalistically are the most profitable ones.”
Now came the banner Dodge plastered across the page:
“I think now with John becoming publisher there’s a real opportunity to put something back into the editorial side of it. He and I used to run from time to time and he used to talk to me about how wonderful it would be to have the resources the Trib did. There are a lot of people who hope he can find some resources.”
