Interview with Paul Janensch, July 8, 1981

Partial Transcript: This is Mary BoBo of the Univesity of Louisville Oral History Center.

Segment Synopsis: This is an introduction to the interviewer and project. The interviewer also provides background information on Mr. Janensch.

Partial Transcript: Well, I didn't get into journalism right away, as most journalists do.

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Janensch recalls the events leading up to him being named the Executive Director of The Courier-Journal and Times in 1979. This includes his positions in Chicago's City News Bureau, attending Columbia University to get a graduate degree in journalism, working in various positions at The-Courier Journal, working at the Washington Bureau, and working at Philadelphia Daily News.

Partial Transcript: Okay. Let's go back and talk about these years when you were a reporter.

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Janensch discusses how there was a shift over time in the kind of stories the paper published, from when Mr. Hirshonroder was City Editor to when George Gill was City Editor. He talks about covering longer-range news events, such as the Civil Rights Movement, during the time of Mr. Gill,

Partial Transcript: So there was this change, and then when I became City Editor...

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Janensch talks about some of the changes that took place once he became City Editor of The Courier-Journal - primarily that they began aggressively searching for news and instituting large-scale projects. He discusses some of the things critics may say about the changes and he also mentions the changes in the type of political news they cover.

Partial Transcript: Will this be a could place for you to comment on different reporters' views of how you do deal with powerful people and politicians?

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Janensch says he encourages reporters who covers people in public life to be visible to the population in case the public or the person has a comment, concern, or idea. He also believes reporters and public people need to find a balance between being too close to each other and not being close enough.

Partial Transcript: For just a few minutes, lets talk about the re-identification of the roles of the two papers in the present.

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Janensch states the things the two papers can do in order to stay successful. He mentions the competition between the two papers and the problems they have because of impulse readers.

Partial Transcript: Let's talk about television and cable and video text and all the future things that might be happening that you're involved with now.

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Janensch states there are two dangers in the business with technology. The first is that people do not think technology is a threat. The second is that they over-predict the threat of technology. He discusses some of the benefits he sees in having digital newspapers and he states his predictions for newspapers in the future.

Partial Transcript: You have mentioned that you see a new competitor in cable.

Segment Synopsis: First, Mr. Janensch states why The Courier-Journal and Times newspapers are not a monopoly in this area. Then he discusses some of the competitors, including advertising circulars, television, Voice newspaper, and local neighborhood newspapers.

Partial Transcript: I guess the only thing that I'm having trouble clarifying in my own mind...

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Janensch states that The Courier-Journal will always cover national news, but its focus has never been on national news compared to some other newspapers. He also discusses how managing resources and people has changed over time. He focuses, in particular, on how The Courier-Journal has changed since Norman Isaacs, who hired him, left.