"A Traitor to His Class": Race and Publisher W.E. ‘Ned’ Chilton III, 1953-1984

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session I
  In Interactive Paper Session: Communication History Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

This study looks historically at the role of the press in the public sphere, using as a case study the evolution of the views of publisher W.E. “Ned” Chilton III on race issues during his career at The Charleston Gazette, West Virginia’s largest newspaper. Chilton, born into privilege, was as an unquestioning member of the white power structure. However, over time he became extremely vocal on Civil Rights issues, often using The Gazette’s editorial pages and reporting resources to do so. In examining Chilton’s publishing career, this study reveals how a single newspaper publisher became the most vocal and possibly the most effective voice for change in West Virginia during the civil rights movement, illustrating the dynamic role of even a single press outlet in providing access to information for debate in the public sphere.

Author

• Edgar C. Simpson, Central Michigan University