Ladies and gentlemen:
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I was a managing editor in Pioneer’s North group from 1979 to 1990 for the Evanston Review, Glencoe News, Deerfield Review, and Northbrook Star. During those 12 years I garnered a number of honors, including a Peter Lisagor award, Best Columnist by Suburban Newspapers of America, and several first places for features by Northern Illinois University. Other than the fact that I’m a gifted writer (ahem!), the crucial reason why I won these awards is that the executive level of Pioneer Press during those years did not dictate editorial content. We were allowed to write ’em as we saw ’em. I’m sure some of my stories and most of my columns would have been censored by the current “business uber alles” regime. The only directive to editors and reporters back then was that their work be ethical, true, well researched, and of quality.
After talking with a number of my alumni peers, we all agree that we are embarrassed to be once associated with this Pioneer Press, and that Virginia, although she loved her work as we all did, is well out of there with her pride and integrity intact.
