Oral history interview with W. A. Scott III, 1971.

Biographical Note

William Alexander Scott III (1923-1992) was born in Johnson City, Tennessee. Growing up in Atlanta, Scott worked for the Atlanta Daily World in many capacities, first as a paperboy and janitor and later as a journalist and photographer. During his service in World War II, Scott was a photographer for the 318th Airbase Squadron and the 183rd Engineer Combat Battalion. He helped liberate Nazi concentration camps, including Buchenwald, and was later appointed by President George Bush to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. After the war, Scott completed his degree in mathematics and business administration at Morehouse College, and in 1949 became the circulation manager of the World. In 1986, the mayor of Atlanta appointed Scott to a council to plan the 150th anniversary of the city's establishment. A skillful chess player, Scott was president of the Atlanta Chess Association.

Scope and Contents

This interview with W. A. Scott III begins with an overview his early life, including his family, education, and his service in Europe during World War II. The conversation the shifts to a discussion of Scott's career as circulation manager of the Atlanta Daily World, including the newspaper's circulation during his tenure. Also covered are the differences between black and white newspapers; changes in the black press over the years; the black press' successes and failures; and the decreasing frequency with which newspapers are published. W. A. Scott speaks about the impact of the transistor radio on the civil rights struggle; bias and objectivity in the press; and sensationalism in the black press; Scott's predictions for the future of the press in light of new technology; challenges he faced over the years; his interests apart from journalism; the ownership of black newspapers; the crusading spirit of the black press; and the prospects and necessity of a national black news service. The interview concludes with a discussion of whether the white press has become more fair and representative in coverage of minority affairs since the Kerner Commission report.

Subjects

• African American journalists.
• African American press.
• African Americans--Civil rights.
• Atlanta (Ga.)--Newspapers.
• Interviews.
• Journalists--Interviews.
• La Brie, Henry G., interviewer.--http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/ivr
• Newspaper publishing--Economic aspects--United States.
• Newspapers--Circulation.
• Oral histories (literary works)
• Scott, William Alexander, III, 1923-1992--Interviews.
• United States. National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders.--Report.