What’s it like to be gay in Hannibal, Missouri, a town of 17,606 that bills itself as America’s hometown? Mary Lou Montgomery, editor of the Hannibal Courier-Post, says sexual orientation is not discussed: “It’s pretty quiet—not … Read more
We visited Paris, Mo., to see a recently restored wall mural in the town’s post office titled “The Arrival of the Clemens Family in Florida.” The mural, completed by Fred Green Carpenter in 1940, shows the … Read more
Smiles and laughter come easily to Connie Ritter, 61, the second of 10 children born and raised in Monroe City, Missouri. But her face turns stern when she recalls the playground beside the Mark Twain birthplace … Read more
When Dave Smith, 59, was a boy, he used to sled down the backside of 10-story-tall Monks Mound. The same Monks Mound, from which 1,000 years ago a Native American chief ruled a six-square-mile community of … Read more
Food cooler for the van, check. Extra batteries for cameras, check. Twain hat for head, check. Well, okay, a Twain hat isn’t normally regarded as essential for a three-month trip, but I’m a hat guy. My … Read more
Loren Ghiglione (b. April 5, 1941) was president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors (1989-1990) during his 26 years (1969-1995) as editor-publisher-owner of the Southbridge (Mass.) Evening News. He then consulted to The Newseum (1995-96), directed journalism program at Emory (1996-99), USC (1999-2001) and Northwestern (2001-06), and served as president of the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication (2006-07). He has written or edited eight books about journalism and teaches global journalism and media history at Northwestern.
