Interview with Andrew Eckdahl, July 6, 1978

Partial Transcript: Good afternoon. My name is Marguerite Ruttle and I'm working with the Urban League this summer, um, doing a project on integration/segregation in Lexington...

Segment Synopsis: Eckdahl quickly mentions his personal and educational history.

Keywords: Careers; Editors; News reporters; Newspapers; Reporters

Subjects: Newspaper editors

Partial Transcript: Um, how long has the Herald been in existence?

Segment Synopsis: Eckdahl discusses the segregation of news coverage. He includes the subtleties of discrimination when it came to what could be covered regarding African Americans. Happenings after the start of integration of news are mentioned.

Keywords: African American news reporters; African American reporters; Black news; Black news reporters; Colored Notes; Columns; Knight Ridder; Knight Ridder Newspapers; Knight Ridder, Inc.; Lexington Herald Leader; News; Newspapers; Obituaries; Subscriptions

Subjects: African American journalists; Discrimination; Knight-Ridder Newspapers, Inc.; Newspapers--Sections, columns, etc; Race discrimination; Segregation

Partial Transcript: Um, who was the owner of the paper at the, uh, around the '50s and '60s?

Segment Synopsis: Eckdahl gives a brief run through of the history of the newspaper's ownership and highlights what each change of power meant for the paper.

Keywords: Chief Executive Officer (CEO); Conservative; Editors; Fred Wachs; Incorporated; Incorporation; John Stoll; Knight Ridder; Management; Owners

Subjects: Knight-Ridder Newspapers, Inc.

Partial Transcript: Uh, okay, now moving on to the Civil Rights Movement. Um, the Herald coverage, or lack of, during the Civil Rights, how was it?

Segment Synopsis: Eckdahl explores the position that the Herald took in regard to the Civil Rights Movement, including why there was little coverage. Eckdahl agrees more or less with the philosophy of his old boss that Lexington need not be rustled up.

Keywords: Black Civil Rights; Black Civil Rights Movement; Civil Rights; Conservative; Coverage

Subjects: Civil rights movements--Kentucky--History--20th century; Selma (Ala.)

Partial Transcript: Um, is it true that during the Civil Rights Movement blacks demonstrated in front of the building?

Segment Synopsis: Eckdahl talks about the atmosphere and attitude during the Civil Rights Movement, including his personal accounts of what demonstrations he saw and how involved the Herald was.

Keywords: Crime; Marching; Peaceful demonstrations; Protests; Responses; Responsive

Subjects: Boycotts; Civil rights movement; Demonstrations; Protest and social movements

Partial Transcript: Um, when did things at the Herald begin to change?

Segment Synopsis: Eckdahl talks about when and how the Herald responded to integration.

Keywords: Changes; Coverage; Employment; Knight Ridder

Subjects: African Americans--Segregation; Integration

Partial Transcript: Uh, can you mention anything else for us that might be helpful?

Segment Synopsis: Eckdahl gives his opinion on what he expects from future integration initiatives.

Keywords: Conclusions; Coverage; News; Outlook; Prospects

Subjects: Integration