Paul Miller, a journalism icon — September marks 100th anniversary of Miller's birth

Wednesday, September 6, 2006

From traditional American roots, Paul Miller rose to a position of international influence in the Gannett Corporation and Associated Press. His decades of leadership have provided a legacy in journalism that will endure for generations.

Miller's own experiences in the newspaper world began in communities in Oklahoma. While still in high school, he reported for the Pawhuska Daily Journal and served briefly as city editor. During college, he worked for the Daily Oklahoman as well as on student newspapers at the University of Oklahoma and at then Oklahoma A&M College, from which he graduated in 1931 after having taken a year out to be publisher and reporter for yet another newspaper, the Okemah Daily Leader.

As president and chief executive officer of the Gannett Corporation from 1957-78 and as president and chairman of the Associated Press from 1963-77, Miller traveled widely, reporting on current events and the political, social and cultural aspects of the countries visited. He met with presidents and other world leaders and was the national spokesman on journalistic affairs.

In the latter activity, he encouraged journalism to grow and keep up with changes in society and developing technologies and to preserve its integrity. Miller maintained, "Our actions must be determined not by mere compliance with state or federal law, not by public attitudes, but on the basis of doing the right thing."

The OSU Library houses the Paul Miller Papers. The collection consists of general correspondence, speeches, columns and photographs of Miller, as well as similar material and memorabilia related to the Associated Press, the Gannett Corporation, and other newspaper, radio, and television concerns with which Miller was involved. In addition to providing biographical information on Miller and other leaders of the Gannett Group, the material in this collection helps to document four decades of world affairs and developments in journalism and broadcasting.

September 2006 marks the 100th anniversary of Miller’s birth. In recognition, the OSU Library hosts a joint celebration of reopening the Paul Miller Room in the Edmon Low Library and Constitution Day.

The Paul Miller Room reopening ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. on Sept. 15 on the second floor of the Edmon Low Library. OSU’s official Constitution Day event follows at 11 a.m. in the Peggy V. Helmerich Browsing Room.

In honor of Miller’s birthday, Constitution Day will feature Gregory E. Favre, a distinguished fellow in journalism values at the Poynter Institute. He will speak on freedom of the press. Both events are free and open to the public.