Wednesday, April 17, 2002 9:18 PM
Jim Bellows discusses 55 years taking on the Goliaths of journalism
Editor and author Jim Bellows, who has had a legendary career in print, broadcast and online journalism, will be celebrat- ed by the Los Angeles Press Club in “An Evening For Journalists With Jim Bellows,” on Thursday, May 16, in Hollywood, it was announced by club President Patt Morrison.
The event coincides with publication of the book, “The Last Editor: How I Saved the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times from Dullness and Complacency,” which captures an era of journalism led by colorful crusading editors like Ben Bradlee, Gene Roberts, Ralph McGill, Gene Patterson and Bellows himself, who fought passionately and with integrity to educate and inform readers. Bellows is also the subject of a documentary on public television this month.
Bellows 55-year career has spanned newspapers, magazines, television and online journalism, including editing the NewYork Herald Tribune, The Washington Star, The Miami News, L.A. Herald Examiner and the TV show, “Entertainment Tonight.”
Bellows has been credited with many journalistic innovations, including the birth of the “new journalism” of writers he nurtured including Tom Wolfe, Jimmy Breslin, Gail Sheehy and Bob Novak.
“Bellows believes journalism is a sacred trust that must not only uncover hypocrisy, but also – through colorful portrayals and use of details – deliver the essence and experience of a story,” says journalist Ann Salisbury Doneen, who worked with Bellows. “His passion for fairness, his undying love for the underdog, and
his love of flair were always his strongest weapons. He changed the face of journalism.”
“An Evening For Journalists With Jim Bellows” will be mod- erated by Alex Ben Block, who also worked for Bellows. :”This is an evening for stories and fun anecdotes, but also a chance to share the vision of an editor of real integrity who has taken on the goliaths of journalism and lived to tell about it,” says Block.
It takes place at the club’s office, 6363 Sunset Blvd., Suite 530 in Hollywood, with a light buffet from 6 p.m. and the pro- gram at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $15 for members and affiliates, and $30 for non-members. Anyone joining the club that evening will receive complimentary admission.
