Old St. Francis History Pub

Presented by William Willingham, Grit and Ink Author

Join us to discover how the modern-day EO Media Group evolved from a weekly newspaper established in Pendleton in 1875 to a multi-city combination of daily and weekly publications throughout Oregon. It covers how powerful and colorful editors helped shape important events not only in communities where the papers operated, but in the state at large. How the company newspapers handled important episodes, such as the rise of the KKK, impact of the Great Depression, community response to wars, environmental issues, and rise of right-wing extremism will be touched on. Finally, the talk will tell how, over time, the EO Media Group stayed in front of the technological changes driving the publication of newspapers. A strong commitment to the values of community journalism by the family behind the company lie at the heart of the company’s success.

About the Speaker:

William Willingham is a fourth-generation Oregonian.  He was born and raised in Pendleton and now lives in Portland, working as a Consulting Historian.  He received his BA from Willamette University and a Ph.D. from Northwestern University. He has written several books on Oregon history, including Grit and Ink:  An Oregon Family’s Adventures in Newspapering, 1908-2018 (2018); Starting Over:  Community Building on the Eastern Oregon Frontier (2005); Collegiate Architecture in the West:  Willamette University, 1842-2012 (2019); Classic Houses of Portland, Oregon, 1850-1950 (1999).