Janet McCoy (mccoyjl@mail.auburn.edu)

AU JOURNALISM PROFESSOR WRITES 125-YEAR HISTORY OF THE APA

AUBURN -- A book covering the 125-year history of Alabama's most significant -- and everyday -- happenings as chronicled by state newspapers has been written by an Auburn University journalism professor.

Ed Williams, an associate professor in the Department of Journalism at AU, has written a history of the Alabama Press Association, the oldest business organization in the state.

The Press of Alabama: A History of the Alabama Press Association is a 432 page, 13-chapter volume that includes not only state history, but a history of newspapers.

"Obviously, it (the book) was a major endeavor and Ed is to be congratulated," says Bill Keller, executive director of the Alabama Press Association. "I have heard from my counterparts who have seen the book, and they tell me it is the best in the country."

Keller said the book will be a reminder to all who have been affiliated with the APA "of our heritage, our history and what the association has meant to the newspaper industry. And, we can appreciate the courage and foresight of earlier members."

Distinguished University Professor Wayne Flynt, who teaches Southern history at AU, has recommended the book to students researching topics in the state.

"I think the Alabama press has had such a tremendous influence on Alabama," he said. "There is so little known about the APA and what is known is piece meal. This book is a marvelous contribution to how opinion is made in the state."

Williams was asked in 1994 to undertake the APA project, and spent the next two years traveling the state interviewing journalists and researching papers, libraries and the files of the APA.

"Newspapers have meant a lot to whatever progress we've made in this state," he said. "The APA was in the forefront of progress in the state. The APA pushed for local taxes for education in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, pushed for a statewide chamber of commerce, opposed censorship and upheld strong shield laws to protect reporters.

"One of the most enjoyable parts of doing the book was talking to the older newspapermen and women in Alabama because they all had such interesting stories to tell," Williams said.

"The interviews of senior newspapermen and women were the most interesting and helpful, especially Jimmy Mills, who will be 97 years old this year," he said. "He is the oldest newspaperman in Alabama and was editor of the Birmingham Post and later the Birmingham Post-Herald."

Mills was responsible for the landmark Supreme Court decision in Mills vs. Alabama which, until 1966, forbade Alabama newspapers from publishing election day editorials. Mills challenged that law in 1962 during a bitter change of government election and was arrested and charged with violating the Alabama Corrupt Practices Act.

Williams says he also enjoyed his interview with Bertie Parish, who at 81 years old is still actively in the newspaper business with the Clayton Record in Barbour County. "Her parents were publishers before her and both are in the APA Hall of Honor, which is housed at Auburn University.

"Mrs. Parish told me of her memories of her parents who published the paper during the depression," he said. "She told me bartering for newspaper subscriptions was very common, exchanging dozens of eggs, syrup and sugar cane for newspaper subscriptions."

As a starting point, Williams relied upon a history written by L.O. Brackeen, former director of public relations at AU, who wrote History of the Alabama Press Association, 1971-1951 and his revised edition in 1959.

CONTACT: Williams, 844-4607 (willik5@mail.auburn.edu).