The Life of Kings: The ‘Baltimore Sun’ and the Golden Age of the American Newspaper

Broening and Hill, two seasoned newspapermen from the Baltimore Sun, enlist their former colleagues—veteran reporters and editors—to document the splendid history of the newspaper. The book explores the Sun from the inside out, covering the company’s organizational makeup, journalistic standards and modes of operation, political affiliations and reputation in Washington, D.C., and readership, as well as development of specific features such as the op-ed page and political cartoons. There are personal remembrances and career highlights aplenty. The title refers to a remark by illustrious Sun alum H.L. Mencken, “an important voice in the country’s intellectual conversation” who equated reporting to a privileged way of life. Certainly, the description of overseas assignments by foreign correspondent and Pulitzer Prize–finalist Gilbert A. Lewthwaite supports this point of view; he recalls staff receiving “a royal welcome on their travels... though personal perks did nothing to detract from the serious professional intent.” As with any fraternity, there are favorites and the feared, among them the “fabled” managing editor Charles H. Dorsey, Jr., a “lifelong deskman who had ‘never been outdoors,’ ” writes reporter Ernest B. Furgurson, who served as the paper’s Washington bureau chief from 1975 to 1987. This is an informative exploration of a bygone era in print journalism, and the romantic reminiscences of the hardworking journalists who toiled to fill the Sun’s pages will resonate with baby boomers and media study students. [em](Oct.) [/em]