50 Years of the

Forty-Niner

Address delivered at University Library reception and exhibit Nov. 11, 1999

By William A. Mulligan, Ph.D.

Publisher

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me take just a few a few minutes to reflect on this wonderful crown jewel of student press freedom launched forty-niner years ago today.

I have worked under some 15 flags, here in the United States and in the People’s Republic of China, most them professional publications, and not one would compare to the uniqueness of our Forty-Niner. And, no where will you find the dedication that all the staff members in all the departments of the newspaper demonstrate each day as a matter of routine.

And, believe me, the newspaper staff is certainly not perfect. Hardly a day passes that we do not see Murphy’s Law enforced. Unlike professional publications, once the staff reaches a level of achievement, it leaves. We begin anew each semester. Yet, each day the students produce a newspaper of very high quality.

Even though we have not missed a day, glitches have caused the editors to panic. I will never forget the morning in the late ’80s when Chief Editor Jeff Mitchell arrived on campus after a few hours of sleep to find that the special 24-page section . . .  [“Streets of Terror”] in Los Angeles and Orange counties was missing from the paper. He had left the printer at 3 a.m. without realizing that the press people had misunderstood him and printed the special section and stored it for a later date. Mitchell, in a fit of rage, ordered an afternoon edition of the Forty-Niner, which arrived on campus shortly after 1 p.m. — with the special section inside.

Or, even more of a problem, the day a couple of summers ago when the campus received the Summer Sundial of Cal State Northridge instead of our own Forty-Niner. Of course, Northridge had a similar reaction with the delivery of the Summer Forty-Niner on its campus.

Also, all of us must consider that for 50 years this publication has not missed a scheduled publication during a regular semester. The hard-working Forty-Niner staff produces a new product with every single issue. No one can understand the amount of work that is involved in producing a newspaper unless they have done it. And, unlike no other business in the United States, the paper enjoys protection specifically mentioned in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

With that in mind, I would like to recognize six people who are not here with us today for their tremendous contributions to the Forty-Niner. The six had visions that are taking us into the 21st century. Two were professors, two were students and two were staff members.

Dr. Roger Wetherington contributed a tremendous amount of his expertise as news editorial adviser of the newspaper. A former city editor of the New York Daily News, he worked on campus here at different times, in the ’70s and in the late ’80s. In between, he worked at the Sundial.

The other staff member I want to recognize is Jamie Eggleston. Jamie served 20 years as production manager of the Forty-Niner. She had to leave to return to Tennessee this year to take care of her mother, or she would be here now.

Students come and go on the Forty-Niner. Professors come and go on the Forty-Niner. But, Jamie was always here for former studens to talk to and seek advice and information on the activities of the Forty-Niner. This day would not be complete without remembering all of her contributions. She’s the one that could defeat Murphy’s Law.

Now, please let me thank all of you who have worked for the Forty-Niner during the last 50 years for your dedication and contributions that make this great newspaper what it is today. This newspaper not only has a local reputation but now has a national reputation with its on-line edition.

All of us in this room must recognize Ana and the present news-editorial staff of the Forty-Niner for their tremendous work in producing this celebration today, the special section today in the Forty-Niner and on line that marks the 50 years of this newspaper.

In addition, she and her staff continue to produce the daily newspaper that we all enjoy. And, they tell me that they go to classes, too!

Finally, I wish to recognize the business manager of the Forty-Niner, Georganne Sparks, for all her work, without which we would not be here for this celebration.

Thank all of you, especially our special guests, for coming today. May the next 50 years be as great as the last 50.

I want to thank University Library for all of its help.

Now, please take some time to enjoy “50 Years of the Forty-Niner” exhibit here. I also invite all of our guests to come and visit us at the Forty-Niner today.

Dr. Roger Wetherington contributed a tremendous amount of his expertise as news editorial adviser of the newspaper. A former city editor of the New York Daily News, he worked on campus here at different times, in the ’70s and in the late

Dr. Wetherington was a coach of the first rank. A better journalist would be hard to find anywhere in the United States. Students loved Roger and Roger loved students. He left a few years ago to take a job at St. John’s University in New York and to write editorials for the national edition of The New York Times.

Today, Dr. Wetherington continues his teaching at St. John’s and now works on the copy desk of The New York Times.

He sends his best wishes on our anniversary.

The second professor, Mary Glick, was also a news editorial adviser for the Forty-Niner. She worked on the paper after Dr. Wetherington left. A former features editor at the Daily Breeze in Torrance. She directed the students in producing the design that the Forty-Niner uses today.

Two design experts, Carol Morton of the Press Telegram here in Long Beach, and Managing Editor Nanette Bisher of the Orange County Register joined the students in their design work.

Mary Glick also needs to be recognized for her contributions in overseeing the work of Natasha Wanachek, the first editor of the On-Line Forty-Niner. Mary Glick also sends her best wishes to us today. Mary left to return to her alma mater in New York State and establish a journalism department and student newspaper, which is online only.

Natasha Wanachek was a newspaper journalism student who had a vision; she wanted tot take Journalism 422, the editors’ class, to set up the Forty-Niner on the internet.

I had been looking for a student for sometime to do this work. Virtually no one supported the idea of an on-line newspaper at the time spring 1994. Natasha convinced me that she could indeed edit one of the nation’s first on-line publications.

You can see what she started on the Web today. Those early editions are still online, unlike all other publications.