working on a stone tablet or glass tablet but the rules of content don't change over hundreds of years. the audience must have reliable independent information. it's the only way that a democracy can work. china works without that but has an autocratic communist government. russia works without that but it has an autocratic government. he want to live in a dictatorship you can get away with not having a free press but in a democracy if indeed, the people rule they have to have independent information and there's only one way to do that. one of the reasons america is great is because we have the greatest journalism in the wor world. the book is truth will tell you, scott and one great to talk to you. thank you so much. mcdavid, great to be with you. thank you. >> this in all our efforts programs are available at

podcast and can be viewed on our website, but tb .org. >> live from chicago it is day two of the 35th annual printers wrote lit fest. throughout the day today you hear from several authors including education activists and professor on racism in schools. follow-up social media for behind-the-scenes pictures and videos and check your cable guides for more agile information. for step today is journalist dorothy butler gilliam, first african-american woman reporter at "the washington post". >> welcome, everyone. this is presented by the near self-cleaning board. i want to give a special like

you to our sponsors who have been generous in their support this evening. excuse me, especially when thrust is our [inaudible] today's program will be broadcast live on the spin to book tv and if there's time at the end for a q&a session with the author we ask you to use the microphone located at the center of the room so the home viewing audience can hear your questions. for we begin today's program we ask you to silence your cell phones and turn off the camera flashes. i'm here to introduce you to -- here to introduce our guest is [inaudible], reporter and columnist for the chicago sun-times, president of the chicago chapter of the national association of black journalists and president of the chicago journalist association. please welcome [inaudible] of

the chicago sun-times. thank you back. [applause] >> good morning. thank you all for being here today. for joining us for what promises to be an inspiring and intriguing conversation. as a columnist at a major chicago newspaper and as president of the national association of black journalists chicago chapter i owe my career to dorothy butler gilliam. author of trailblazer, pioneering journalist fighting to make the media look more like america. yes, i owe my career to dorothy butler gilliam and two pioneers such as sheet. those who endured the struggle of being the first. those who endured the struggles associated with breaking down racial barriers.

dorothy butler gilliam was only 23 when hired at "the washington post". twenty-three. the year was 1961, a time of civil unrest in the battle for racial equality. she would be the first african-american woman reporter ever to be hired by the iconic newspaper but in the post, prestigious hall miss gilliam was ignored, dismissed by most of her weight colleagues. they were not even speak to her. taxis would not stop for her but a black doorman did stop for her and when she arrived in an upscale apartment building to interview a white resident he informed her the maid's entrance is around the back. the post would not even, at the time, cover deaths in the black community.

cheap deaths one editor called them, unworthy of attention. through it all miss gilliam persisted and not seen the highs and lows of the story career a 50 year as an award-winning journalist, editor, columnist and author. as well as, feminist, civil rights activists, mentor to scores of young minority journalists who sought to follow in her footsteps aided directly by miss gilliam in achieving their journalism education. miss gilliam who gone on to earn a graduate degree in journalism from columbia university later established the young journalists development project. this helps to provide professional training among other support to a younger generation of journalists. she also founded prime movers media, a mentorship program connecting award-winning journalist with disadvantaged

high school students who were aspiring to journalism careers. if you thought 23 was young miss gilliam actually began her journalism career at age 17. as a reporter for the black press in the segregated south in the 1950s. born november 24, 1936 in memphis, tennessee miss gilliam's parents, addie and jesse may butler had ten children and only five of whom survived. she was working as a secretary at the louisville defender when one day the society editor got sick and she was asked to fill in. the rest is history. that beat exposed a teenager from the projects to a world of high society and enlarging her dream. she would distinguish herself on reporting the integration of schools of little rock, arkansas

and then go on to work as an associate editor at the iconic jet magazine in ebony right here in chicago during college. before joining the post where she worked for more than 30 years before retiring in 2003. ms. gilliam overcame racism and sexism to become a successful columnist whose popular metro column often focused on issues of equity in education, politics and race. by the time she, like many back journalist, became an advocate and activist for a compliment, her dedication in her commitment to affecting societal change and to extend a hand to those coming behind her and taking her to the presidency of the formidable national association of black journalists. it's an organization that the leadership of pioneers like ms. gilliam continues today to advocate for diversity in our

nation's newsrooms a fair, equitable coverage of communities of color so that all sides of the stories are shared. she is known for [inaudible]. it trailblazer, author of the 1976 biography, paul roberson: all-american has given us a beautifully written memoir on turbulent decades of america struggle with race and equity and civil rights. on one individual struggle to overcome and achieve as both an african-american and woman working in mainstream media. an opportunity which might generation admittedly takes for granted. we are in for a treat, not the least reason of which is with our author is interviewed by public radio wb easy, anger and host, jennifer white. she is host of the live morning talk show in the warning shift. when ms. white took over the host chair in january from 30

year veteran tony israel smith managing director for programming and audience development said the morning shift is vital to chicago daily news conversation and to fostering thoughtful public discourse that connects chicago to each other and the most important issues and ideas in our region. her ability to ask the right question at the right moment and her passion for the region come through each time she sets behind the microphone. a typical week on [inaudible] can find her broadcasting live from the winchester arena the historic inauguration circles first african-american woman mayor, laurie lightfoot. the next day covering the new exhibit at the art institute of chicago there was an overview artist greg borowitz, 30 year

plus career in the ongoing aids crisis. that next day hard to bring the legislative session fighting down and sprinkled talking former chicago mayor rahm emanuel's new gig. then highlighting an organization that offers jobs and other support services to other men at high risk for gun violence in chicago. she's dynamic, charismatic, committed. a better match for conversation this morning you could not find. ladies and gentlemen, dorothy gilliam, author of trailblazer, pioneering journalist fight to make the media look more like america in conversation with msb easy radio. [applause] >> thank you for that introduction. i feel like i at least can pack up and go home now. amazing. i noticed your reaction when she

said my career is because of dorothy gilliam. you had a visceral reaction but i know so many journalists who would say exactly the sam