Final Edition: Journalism According to Jack and Jim Knight
John S. (Jack) and James (Jim) Knight were Akron brothers and prominent national figures, who owned and ran the AkronBeacon Journal newspaper in the 1900s.
The two brothers, who inherited the Beacon Journal from their father, worked together to build up that newspaper into a strong editorial voice and business force that helped steer the city and the region.
Eventually, the two parlayed the Akron paper into the flagship of a powerful, influential newspaper chain that included the Miami Herald, Detroit Free Press, San Jose MercuryNewsand the Philadelphia Inquirer. By 1981, the Knight-Ridder newspaper chain included 32 newspapers in 17 states, employed 15,000 workers and had a circulation of 3.6 million daily.
The brothers also founded the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation (Miami), which remains one of the largest philanthropic organizations in the nation.
Knight-Ridder Newspapers did not fare as well. The prize-winning newspaper group, at one time the nation's largest, was sold to the McClatchy Co. in 2006 for $4.5 billion in cash and stock. Since then, McClatchy has sold off 12 Knight-Ridder newspapers to other corporations. The Beacon Journal was sold to Black Press Ltd., a Canadian publishing company.
The hour-long documentary tells the story of the Knight family, the Beacon Journal and the rise and fall of the Knight-Ridder newspaper group. The documentary was written and produced by Paul Jacoway, of Paul R. Jacoway Productions of Akron, and Kathleen Endres, distinguished professor of Communication at The University of Akron, and directed by Jacoway.
Three years in the making and narrated by David Lieberth, deputy mayor of the City of Akron, the documentary features interviews with popular local newspaper writers Abe Zaidan and Michael Douglas, Beacon Journal Editor Bruce Winges, and Knight Foundation President Alberto Ibarguen.
The documentary was underwritten by a grant from the Ohio Humanities Council, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Chapter Summaries
Chapter 1: Introduction -- 9 minutes
The first chapter of the documentary previews the topics to be discussed in the remainder of the program. Chapter I talks about how a powerful newspaper chain started with one family in Akron, Ohio. The documentary talks about civic journalism and its importance to the city. It also deals with the wider issues involved in newspaper publishing today. This chapter also talks about how the Knight family gets to Akron and establishes its place in newspaper publishing.
Chapter 2: The Knight Editorial Philosophy Evolves -- 6 minutes
This chapter of the documentary outlines the evolving editorial philosophy of John S. ("Jack") Knight. Knight wrote an editorial column for decades. In 1968 at the age of 74, he won the Pulitzer Prize, the highest award given in journalism. This chapter also outlines how the two brothers split corporate responsibilities -- Jack Knight had editors report to him while all general managers (responsible for all business operations) reported to James ("Jim") Knight.
Chapter 3: Knight Communities -- 7 minutes
The chapter of the documentary outlines the Knight brothers' commitment to the communities where their newspapers appeared. Jack Knight had well connected friends; and he had input into the leadership of cities where his newspapers appeared, especially in Akron, Ohio. The section also outlines how Jack Knight believed in editorial independence at the newspapers he owned. Jack Knight believed that editorial independence led to better journalism and greater profits.
Chapter 4: A Love for Politics -- 5 minutes
This chapter of the documentary explains how important Jack Knight was in politics. With an editorial column read by more than one million subscribers nationwide, Knight wielded enormous political influence. This chapter outlines how presidents and presidential candidates visited him in the newsroom. But Knight didn't necessarily like Washington, D.C., or politics.
Chapter 5: Get the Truth & Print It -- 2 minutes
The section of the documentary talks about Jack Knight's columns in the 1960s and puts his opposition to the Vietnam War and support for protesters in historical context. This chapter also talks about the broader issues of the 1960s.
Chapter 6: The Making of a Pulitzer -- 5 minutes
This chapter of the documentary deals with the Beacon Journal's coverage of the shootings at KentStateUniversity, for which the newspaper won the Pulitzer Prize, the highest award given in journalism. When Jack Knight retired as editorial chairman of Knight-Ridder, he and his newspapers had won 26 Pulitzer Prizes.
Chapter 7: Journalism in the Hands of Others -- 17 minutes
This chapter details why the Knight corporation went public in 1969. It also outlines why the company merged with Ridder to become Knight-Ridder in 1974 and talks the differences in values between the two companies. This section also deals with the death of Johnny Knight, grandson of John S. Knight and heir apparent to the Knight newspaper fortune.
Chapter 8: The Future -- 7 minutes
This chapter looks at the future of journalism in America. Can newspapers survive? Should the government bail out the newspapers? Newspaper editors ponder their future and give their perspective on the future of newspaper journalism.
Suggestions for Using the Curriculum
The chapter summaries can be used to preview each chapter. For each chapter a list of topics has been provided in the "Topics to Building Background Knowledge" section of the student activity sheet. It is recommended that these topics be used as research assignments for your students or as general class discussion to stimulate interest prior to watching the chapter.
Below is a list of websites where students can be directed to gain knowledge on the topics covered in this documentary:
-- -- overview of John S. Knight and the his manuscript collection at the University of Akron Archives.
--
about_knight/history/john_s_knight__an_appreciation.dot -- an essay that outlines the journalism and philanthropy of the knight family, posted on the Knight Foundation website.
-- -- the website created to accompany this documentary.
Ohio Academic Content Standards
This curriculum is designed to cover the following 10th grade curriculum standards:
Acquisition of Vocabulary:
Determine the meaning and pronunciation of unknown words by using dictionaries, thesauruses, glossaries, technology and textual features, such as definition footnotes or sidebars
Define unknown words through context clues and the author's use of comparison, contrast and cause and effect
Reading Process: Concepts of Print, Comprehension Strategies and Self-Monitoring Strategies:
Apply reading comprehension strategies, including making predictions, comparing and contrasting, recalling and summarizing and making inferences and drawing conclusions
Answer literal, inferential, evaluative and synthesizing questions to demonstrate comprehension of grade-appropriate print texts and electronic and visual media.
Reading Applications: Informational, Technical, Persuasive and Text:
Analyze an author's implicit and explicit argument, perspective or viewpoint in text.
Analyze the author's development of key points to support argument or point of view.
Writing Process:
Generate writing ideas through discussions with others and from printed material, and keep a list of writing ideas.
Organize writing to create a coherent whole with an effective and engaging introduction, body and conclusion, and a closing sentences that summarizes, extends or elaborates on points or ideas in the writing
Writing Applications:
Writing informative essays or reports, including research that:
a. poses relevant and tightly drawn questions that engage the reader;
b. provides a clear and accurate perspective on the subject;
c. creates an organizing structure appropriate to the purpose, audience and context;
d. supports the main ideas with facts, details, examples and explanations from sources; and
e. documents sources and includes bibliographies.
Research:
Identify appropriate sources and gather relevant information from multiple sources;
Determine the accuracy of sources and the credibility of the author by analyzing the sources' validity;
Compile and organize important information and select appropriate sources to support central ideas, concepts and themes.
Communication: Oral and Visual
Apply active listening strategies in a variety of settings.
Answer Key for Student Activity Worksheets
Below is the answer key to the Viewing Questions and Writing to Comprehend sections of the student activities. Some answers represent a possible answer but student may differ slightly
Chapter 1: Introduction
Vocabulary:
Civic Journalism -- a view that journalism has an obligation to go beyond just telling the news to assisting the community.
Merger -- the joining of two companies.
Newspaper folding -- newspapers cease to exist, they no longer publish
Viewing Questions:
1. A newspaper is a publication, usually issued daily or weekly and containing current news, features, editorials and advertising.
2. Newspapers are folding because of cutbacks in advertising, rising costs and competition from other media, especially the internet.
3. Akron liked C.L. Knight's energy, crusading spirit and commitment to the community. 4. Jack Knight was responsible for the editorial content and Jim Knight was responsible for the business side.
Writing to Comprehend:
Points to include
--involvement in the community
--community appreciated his impassioned journalism
--newspaper covered the news in the area well
--C.L. Knight's editorials appealed to the readers
Chapter 2: Knight Editorial Philosophy Evolves
Vocabulary:
Editorial -- An article in a newspapers or magazine that expresses the opinion of an editor about a topic of importance.
Topics to Consider:
World War II -- A war fought from 1939 to 1945, in which the United States, Great Britain, France, the Soviet Union, and other allies defeated Germany, Italy and Japan
Pulitzer Prize -- prizes given yearly to recognize outstanding public service and achievement in American journalism, letters and music.
Viewing Questions:
1. Jack Knight's column was the Editor's Notebook.
2. Jack Knight wrote about everything in his column.
3. Jack Knight did not support World War II immediately but came to support it as long as freedom of the press was not hurt.
4. Jack Knight won the Pulitzer Prize in 1968. He was 74.
Writing to Comprehend:
Points to include:
--Newspapers are concerned about their community
--Editors study the issues important to the community
--Editors are concerned about the future of their community
Chapter 3 - Knight Communities
Vocabulary:
Newspaper Chain/Group -- A company that owns two or more newspapers.
Topics to Consider:
Cuban Refugees -- Refugees are people who leave their homeland because they are afraid of being persecuted because of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a social group or political opinion. After Fidel Castro took control of the government of Cuba in 1959, many Cuban residents worried about their safety and the safety of their families. From that time until 1965, almost 200,000 Cuban citizens came to the United States to live.
Rubber Barons -- Business men or women who owned rubber companies and who held great power in Akron and other cities in Northeast Ohio.
Viewing Questions:
1. Jack Knight was so influential in Akron because he controlled the Beacon Journal, the most consulted medium in the city.
2. Jack Knight believed in editorial independence for newspapers.
3. The role of the editor is to help inform the community
Writing to Comprehend:
Points to include:
--Jack Knight was committed to the future of Akron
--Jack Knight knew the most important individuals in the city.
--Jack Knight owned the only newspaper in the city.
Chapter 4 - A Love of Politics
Vocabulary:
Watergate -- A hotel in Washington, D.C. but a term also used to cover a series of scandals during the presidency of Richard M. Nixon.
Topics to Consider:
John F. Kennedy -- Thirty-fifth president of the United States, assassinated in Dallas, Nov. 22, 1963.
Vietnam War -- A controversial war in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia that waged from 1959 to 1975 between North Vietnam and its Communist allies and the United States and its non-Communist allies. It's impossible to say how many were killed; one estimate places the casualties at 3 to 4 million Vietnamese, 1.5 to 2 million Laotians and Cambodians and more than 58,000 U.S. soldiers.
Viewing Questions:
1. Knight newspapers had more than 1 million subscribers.
2. Jack Knight went to South Vietnam to monitor the elections.
3. Jack Knight took a Beacon Journal home every night from the office.
4. A reporter was briefed every day by the Akron congressman who was on the committee.
Writing to Comprehend:
Points to include:
-- number of subscribers
--knowledgeable about politics
--importance of his editorial column
--access to politicians
Chapter 5 - Get The Truth & Print it
Vocabulary:
Hawks -- Those in favor of carrying on a vigorous pursuit of war.
Doves -- Those opposed to involvement in foreign wars.
Segregation -- The separation of races or ethnic groups in education, in public facilities and in communities.
Integration -- Allowing individuals whatever their race, religion or ethnicity to live, work and/or go to school where they wish.
Topics to Consider:
Civil Rights Movement -- A movement in the United States beginning in the 1950s led primarily by African Americans to establish equal legal, economic, social and political rights for Black citizens.
Protesters -- Those who oppose the status quo, be it the government position on war, international affairs, economic policies, social opportunities or political/legal stances.
Viewing Questions:
1. Jack Knight started to oppose the Vietnam War in 1954 when the French left the country.
2. Jack Knight wrote extensively about the Vietnam War during the 1960s.
3. Jack Knight supported the protesters during the Vietnam War.
Writing to Comprehend:
Points to include:
--opposition to war
Chapter 6 - The Making of a Pulitzer
Topics to Consider:
Kent State University, May 4, 1970 -- On that date, Ohio National Guardsmen opened fire on Kent State University students protesting the war in Vietnam. Four students were killed and 9 wounded.
Freedom of Speech -- The right to express information, ideas and opinions free of government restrictions. This is a Constitutional right assured by the First and Fourteenth amendments.
First Amendment -- The first amendment to the U.S. Constitution guaranteeing the right of free expression, including freedom of the press, speech, religion and assembly.
Viewing Questions:
1. On May 4, 1970, students were shot at KentStateUniversity by Ohio National Guardsmen.
2. J. Edgar Hoover did not believe that the Beacon Journal should publish FBI information about the shootings.
Writing to Comprehend:
Points to include:
--freedoms guaranteed under the First Amendment
--discussion of how those freedoms touch on each student
Chapter 7 - Journalism In The Hands of Others
Vocabulary:
Shareholder -- An individual who owns shares of stock in a corporation. A shareholder earns dividends on the stock and has a right to vote on certain company matters.
Philanthropy -- The attempt to improve the well-being of humankind through charitable aid or donations.
Topics to Consider:
Going Public -- Selling stock in a corporation, so many individuals become stockholders in the company.
Viewing Questions:
1.The Knight brothers took their company public because growing newspapers expensive and they needed more capital (money), because other newspapers companies were going public, and because the two were getting older.
2. Nelson Poynter told Jack Knight going public was a good idea as long as he (Jack Knight) was alive.
3. Bruce Winges is editor of the Beacon Journal.
4. Knight newspapers merged with the Ridder newspaper chain in 1974.
5. After the merger, the company became much more corporate.
6. Johnny Knight was Jack Knight's grandson, who planned a career in the newspaper field.
Writing to Comprehend:
Points to include:
--what values of each company were
--different standards of journalism
--different views of success
Chapter 8 - The Future
Vocabulary:
Federal Bailout -- Government assistance to a failing company
Topics to Consider:
Business Model -- description of the operations of an organization.
Freedom of the Press -- The right to publish newspapers, magazines and books without government interference or prior censorship.
Final Edition -- The last copy of a newspaper or magazine. It usually indicates that the periodical will no longer appear.
Viewing Questions:
1. Newspaper people interviewed did not believe in a federal bailout of the newspaper industry. It is important to retain the independence of journalism from the government.
2. Viewtron was a method of delivering news and information and providing services into the home via the comuter in the 1980s.
Writing to Comprehend:
Points to include
--need for information
--paying for information
--need for community voice.
Student Activities
Chapter 1: Introduction
Topics to Build Background KnowledgeVocabulary
- Journalism--Civic Journalism
- John S. Knight--Mergers
- Akron in the 1920s and 1930s--Newspaper folding
Viewing Questions:
Complete the following questions as you watch Chapter 1 of "Final Edition: Journalism according to Jack and Jim Knight"
1. What is a newspaper?
2. Why are newspapers folding?
3. What newspaper started the Knight Newspaper empire?
4. Why was C.L. Knight welcomed into the Akron community so warmly?
5. How did the two brothers divide their corporate responsibilities?
Writing to Comprehend:
Based on the information that you learned from this chapter of the Final Edition: Journalism according to Jack and Jim Knight, Prepare an answer to the following prompt.
Why was C.L. Knight so successful in Akron?
Chapter 2: Knight Editorial Philosophy Evolves
Topics to Build Background KnowledgeVocabulary
- World War II--Editorial
- Pulitzer Prize
- Editorializing
Viewing Questions:
Complete the following questions as you watch Chapter 2:
1. What was the name of Jack Knight's editorial column?
2. Did Jack Knight support World War II?
3. What award did Jack Knight win in 1968? How old was he?