In 1946, Republic promised to do good — that vow remains
Publisher Eugene Pulliam made a front-page promise: ‘These newspapers want to be good citizens’
In two weeks, I will be 92 years old.
More than half of my life I worked for newspapers owned by Nina and Gene Pulliam. To this day, events trigger memories of an exciting career in the newspaper business.
Sadly, newspapers like I served are today victims of progress and technology. Some believe they will fade without fully recognizing the importance of their indepth reporting and many valued resources they bring to a community.
We all should pray that the purpose of true journalism will never end. It is the bulwark of a free society.
Today’s issue marks the beginning of the 131st year in the life of The Arizona Republic.
What began as the voice of a territory before statehood, The Republic still holds that position as the preeminent source of news collection and distribution under its umbrella title of Republic Media.
The spirit of those pioneers who launched The Arizona Republican, later shortened to The Republic in 1930, still exists.
The men and women based at 200 E. Van Buren St. still embrace the premise of a free press. Journalists have always been the target of those who shout “fake news.” Per
haps today that is more popular than ever.
In December, 1951, three months after joining The Indianapolis Star and The Indianapolis News, it was my good fortune to be assigned a project with Eugene C. Pulliam, owner and publisher.
He was a known taskmaster. I was fearful of him because of what I had heard from everyone, including my journalism teachers. Yet that one event was the beginning of a rewarding career and decades-long friendship built on loyalty and respect.
After 11 years working at the Indianapolis newspapers, he asked if I would transfer to his newspapers in Phoenix, The Arizona Republic and the then Phoenix Gazette.
On my first day in Phoenix, he gave me a copy of what was titled “The Creed of The Arizona Republic and The Phoenix Gazette.” Pulliam published it on the front page of the newspapers on Oct. 26, 1946, his first day of ownership. It read:
“A newspaper is a human institution and, as such, is subject to all the ills and fortunes to which man is heir. It is not like other business chattels which can be bought and sold in cold barter. It takes a heart-hold and a spirited grip on the men and women who produce it day by day. It becomes a part of their very existence.
“The basic policy of these newspapers under new management will be to continue to give Arizona the very best newspapers which the fine family of employees can produce. The first duty of citizenship is useful service to one’s community. These newspapers want to be good citizens. The people of Arizona can count on them when there is worthy work to be done.”
That was my order – “do good.” (“And don’t spend too much money.”)
This from a publisher who, at that time, provided life and health insurance as well as a retirement plan. He worked with more than a dozen labor unions without a strike.
They gave membership to all employees to the Lazy R&G Ranch, 20 acres of a country club-type recreation park they established at 4747 E. Indian School Road. Nina and Gene hosted all types of events for employees and their families.
It was quietly known that any employee facing challenging circumstances could find “just between us” assistance.
Loyalty and pride were part of employee relationships.
To accomplish our role as good citizens, my department of community and corporate services spawned more than 40 programs of holiday charity, concerts, school programs, events and public services.
Season for Sharing, still in existence today, was one of these programs. We released staff to volunteer when requested and encouraged employee representation in nonprofit and civic organizations.
The newspapers supported reorganized civic government, encouraged citizens like Barry Goldwater and John
Rhodes to seek public office and supported their candidacies. The newspapers’ support of Sen. Carl Hayden boosted his development of projects to build Arizona.
The Pulliams, especially Nina, protected the state’s environment and fought poorly planned transportation projects. They opposed roadways that despoiled the beauty of the cities. The newspapers fought dividing neighborhoods and approved good planning. The ugliness of downtowns like Los Angeles and other cities were examples they fought.
After Gene’s death in 1975, Nina succeeded him as publisher. I served on the newspapers’ editorial board and, on several occasions, Phoenix City Manager Marvin Andrews and his staff offered plans to build freeways into and above downtown Phoenix. None of the ideas pleased Nina.
Once, in his frustration, Mr. Andrews asked: “Mrs. Pulliam, what will please you?”
Without hesitation she replied: “Put it underground.”
That became the start of what would become the tunnel under the Margaret Hance Deck Park, named posthumously for our beloved mayor.
That story, never published, is one of many happenings I witnessed.
I observed the power the newspapers possessed under Mr. Pulliam. Not “power,” he would say, “influence.”
Many will challenge there was too much power, but Gene felt it his duty to oversee government and business. As he wrote in his 1946 page one creed, “these newspapers want to do good.”
There were days of sorrow.
The murder of investigative reporter Don Bolles was, without question, the most horrific experience of my career. I spent 11 days outside his room in the intensive care unit of St. Joseph’s Hospital, with armed police officers at all times, to console the Bolles’ family and act as the newspapers’ liaison with media and law enforcement. Don never regained consciousness.
Tragedy would strike again nearly a decade later when Republic Medical Editor Charles Thornton was killed by Russian gunfire while he served on assignment in Afghanistan. (It was my responsibility to deliver confirmation of his death to his wife.)
Photos of Bolles and Thornton hang in The Republic newsroom today.
Today, Phoenix and the Valley of the Sun are respected and envied as a great American center of beauty and opportunity.
Like its namesake, the Phoenix bird of mythology, Phoenix has risen.
Our problems are many, our leadership is challenged. But the promise of the creed of 1946 still stands.
The Arizona Republic wants to be a good citizen.
Bill Shover was the community relations executive for Phoenix Newspapers, Inc., for four decades. His legendary influence and leadership live on in countless ways through organizations that include the Fiesta Bowl, Super Bowl, Valley Leadership, Greater Phoenix Leadership, Phoenix 40, 100 Club, Theodore Roosevelt Council of Boy Scouts and The Salvation Army.