William Tobin
Encyclopedia
William Joseph Tobin was an American
newspaper
journalist
, reporter and editor
. Tobin was the first correspondent
for The Associated Press to be based in Juneau, Alaska
.
, on July 28, 1927. He received his bachelor's degree
in journalism
from Butler University
in 1948.
to AP bureaus
in New York City
and Louisville, Kentucky
.
Tobin was transferred to Juneau, Alaska
, in 1958, when he was 28 years old. In doing so, Tobin became the first Associated Press correspondent to be based in Juneau, the capital city of Alaska. In a statement released at the time of Tobin's posting in Juneau, Frank J. Starzel, the Associated Press' then general manager
, stated, "This forward step reflects The Associated Press' recognition of the increased importance and growth of the territory
."
Tobin covered Alaska's transition from territory to state in 1959, which he later wrote was, "was a thrilling job for me." He covered the visit of Vice President Richard Nixon's 1958 visit to Alaska. He also accompanied then Senator John F. Kennedy's 1960 campaign stops through Alaska, during the first U.S. presidential election in which Alaskans could fully participate.
Tobin was promoted to the Associated Press' assistant bureau chief
in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1960. He was transferred again one year later, this time becoming the bureau chief in Helena, Montana
, in 1961.
By the early 1960s, Tobin, who was married with three sons at the time, was looking for a more permanent job and residence, where he could raise his family. Tobin called the owner of the Anchorage Times
, Robert "Bob" Atwood
in 1963 to inquire about any job prospects in Alaska. Atwood gave Tobin the position of managing editor
at the newspaper. Tobin would later be promoted editor-in-chief and assistant publisher. Tobin remained with the Anchorage Times until the newspaper ceased publication in 1992.
Following the closure of the Anchorage Times, the owner of the Times began paying for a "daily conservative, half-page op-ed
" piece in the rival Anchorage Daily News
. The new op-ed space in the Anchorage Daily News was called the Voice of the Times. Tobin served as the senior editor of the Voice of the Times from 1992 until the op-ed piece was discontinued in October 2008.
During his long career as an Alaskan journalist, Tobin covered the 1964 Alaska earthquake and its aftermath, the construction of the trans-Alaska pipeline and the discovery of oil in the Alaska North Slope
. He also served on the boards of directors of approximately 40 civic organizations at various times during his career.
in October 2008, the same month that the Voice of the Times ceased to be published in the Anchorage Daily News. Tobin died from the disease on April 5, 2009, at his home in Anchorage at the age of 81.
Tobin's funeral was held at the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Anchorage
. He was survived by his wife of nearly 57 years, Marjorie, their three sons, Mike, Dave and Jim; and six grandchildren.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, reporter and editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
. Tobin was the first correspondent
Correspondent
A correspondent or on-the-scene reporter is a journalist or commentator, or more general speaking, an agent who contributes reports to a newspaper, or radio or television news, or another type of company, from a remote, often distant, location. A foreign correspondent is stationed in a foreign...
for The Associated Press to be based in Juneau, Alaska
Juneau, Alaska
The City and Borough of Juneau is a unified municipality located on the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has been the capital of Alaska since 1906, when the government of the then-District of Alaska was moved from Sitka as dictated by the U.S. Congress in 1900...
.
Early life
Tobin was born in Joplin, MissouriJoplin, Missouri
Joplin is a city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of the US state of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 50,150...
, on July 28, 1927. He received his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
from Butler University
Butler University
Butler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, liberal Arts and sciences, pharmacy and health...
in 1948.
Career
Tobin's career briefly began at the Indianapolis Star before he joined The Associated Press in 1948. His early work at the Associated Press included transfers from IndianapolisIndianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
to AP bureaus
News bureau
A News bureau is an office for gathering or distributing news. Similar terms are used for specialized bureaus, often to indicate geographic location or scope of coverage: a ‘Tokyo bureau’ refers to a given news operation's office in Tokyo; foreign bureau is a generic term for a news office set up...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
.
Tobin was transferred to Juneau, Alaska
Juneau, Alaska
The City and Borough of Juneau is a unified municipality located on the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has been the capital of Alaska since 1906, when the government of the then-District of Alaska was moved from Sitka as dictated by the U.S. Congress in 1900...
, in 1958, when he was 28 years old. In doing so, Tobin became the first Associated Press correspondent to be based in Juneau, the capital city of Alaska. In a statement released at the time of Tobin's posting in Juneau, Frank J. Starzel, the Associated Press' then general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
, stated, "This forward step reflects The Associated Press' recognition of the increased importance and growth of the territory
Alaska Territory
The Territory of Alaska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 24, 1912, until January 3, 1959, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Alaska...
."
Tobin covered Alaska's transition from territory to state in 1959, which he later wrote was, "was a thrilling job for me." He covered the visit of Vice President Richard Nixon's 1958 visit to Alaska. He also accompanied then Senator John F. Kennedy's 1960 campaign stops through Alaska, during the first U.S. presidential election in which Alaskans could fully participate.
Tobin was promoted to the Associated Press' assistant bureau chief
News bureau
A News bureau is an office for gathering or distributing news. Similar terms are used for specialized bureaus, often to indicate geographic location or scope of coverage: a ‘Tokyo bureau’ refers to a given news operation's office in Tokyo; foreign bureau is a generic term for a news office set up...
in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1960. He was transferred again one year later, this time becoming the bureau chief in Helena, Montana
Helena, Montana
Helena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the...
, in 1961.
By the early 1960s, Tobin, who was married with three sons at the time, was looking for a more permanent job and residence, where he could raise his family. Tobin called the owner of the Anchorage Times
Anchorage Times
The Anchorage Times was a daily newspaper published in Anchorage, Alaska that became known for the pro-business political stance of longtime publisher and editor, Robert Atwood. Competition from the McClatchy-owned Anchorage Daily News forced it out of business in 1992.-History:The Anchorage Times...
, Robert "Bob" Atwood
Robert Atwood
Robert Bruce Atwood was the long-time editor and publisher of the Anchorage Times, and a proponent of Alaska statehood.-Biography:...
in 1963 to inquire about any job prospects in Alaska. Atwood gave Tobin the position of managing editor
Managing editor
A managing editor is a senior member of a publication's management team.In the United States, a managing editor oversees and coordinates the publication's editorial activities...
at the newspaper. Tobin would later be promoted editor-in-chief and assistant publisher. Tobin remained with the Anchorage Times until the newspaper ceased publication in 1992.
Following the closure of the Anchorage Times, the owner of the Times began paying for a "daily conservative, half-page op-ed
Op-ed
An op-ed, abbreviated from opposite the editorial page , is a newspaper article that expresses the opinions of a named writer who is usually unaffiliated with the newspaper's editorial board...
" piece in the rival Anchorage Daily News
Anchorage Daily News
The Anchorage Daily News is a daily newspaper based in Anchorage, Alaska, in the United States. It is often referred to colloquially as either "the Daily News" or "the ADN"...
. The new op-ed space in the Anchorage Daily News was called the Voice of the Times. Tobin served as the senior editor of the Voice of the Times from 1992 until the op-ed piece was discontinued in October 2008.
During his long career as an Alaskan journalist, Tobin covered the 1964 Alaska earthquake and its aftermath, the construction of the trans-Alaska pipeline and the discovery of oil in the Alaska North Slope
Alaska North Slope
The Alaska North Slope is the region of the U.S. state of Alaska located on the northern slope of the Brooks Range along the coast of two marginal seas of the Arctic Ocean, the Chukchi Sea being on the western side of Point Barrow, and the Beaufort Sea on the eastern.The region contains the...
. He also served on the boards of directors of approximately 40 civic organizations at various times during his career.
Death
Bill Tobin was diagnosed with esophageal cancerEsophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer is malignancy of the esophagus. There are various subtypes, primarily squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma . Squamous cell cancer arises from the cells that line the upper part of the esophagus...
in October 2008, the same month that the Voice of the Times ceased to be published in the Anchorage Daily News. Tobin died from the disease on April 5, 2009, at his home in Anchorage at the age of 81.
Tobin's funeral was held at the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Anchorage
Cathedral of the Holy Family in Anchorage
Cathedral of the Holy Family in Anchorage is a cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It is the motherchurch of the Archdiocese of Anchorage and is the seat of the prelate archbishop...
. He was survived by his wife of nearly 57 years, Marjorie, their three sons, Mike, Dave and Jim; and six grandchildren.