The Last American Editor: Chronicling Life, Death, Triumph, and Tragedy in a Small Town

The Last American Editor

America's small-town newspapers are having a tough time these days. The old, reliable business model for newspapers - based on print advertising - has died, and so has their presence in many communities. Even those who prevailed shrank their reporting staff by half or even more. Thousands of them have gone out of business during the past 15 years.

Ken Tingley's work at the Post-Star in Glens Falls, N.Y. fostered what small newspapers - at their best - stand for; their tight-knit connection to the community, their focus on people and their enduring sense of place. He edited the paper expertly, leading it to win a slew of journalism awards during his tenure, including a Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing. His writing, both spare and evocative, is of a national caliber.