JSK documentary ready

In April 2007 this BJ Alums blog reported that University of Akron graduate student Paul Jacoway was working on a documentary about John S. Knight, who in the early 1900s took over a debt-laden Akron newspaper from his father, C.L. Knight, and built it into a respected empire of 31 daily and 26 non-daily newspapers in 28 U.S. markets. Decades after Knight Newspapers merged to form Knight-Ridder in 1974, it was sold to McClatchy in 2006 not long before newspapers began collapsing and drastically downsizing staff around the country.

But the end of the Knight legend isn't the end of the story. Jacoway, a part-time instructor at U. of A., has produced, written and directed a documentary, “Final Edition: Journalism According to Jack and Jim Knight,” which will premiere at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, in the Akron-Summit County Public Library auditorium, 60 S. High Street. A discussion and reception will follow the showing. All of the events and parking in the adjoining deck after 6 p.m. are free and open to the public.

The premiere date is significant: It's the birthday of the late John "Jack" Knight in Bluefield, West Virginia. He came to Ohio, as so many West Virginians have over the decades, when he was 3 years old.

Jacoway expanded his project, originally titled "The Times of John S. Knight," to include both JSK and his brother, Jim. The brothers also founded the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, a charity based in Miami, Florida.

Jacoway's co-producer is Kathleen Endres, communications professor at the University of Akron. Akron deputy mayor David Lieberth narrates the film, which includes interviews with former BJ columnist and writing coach Abe Zaidan, BJ editorial page editor Michael Douglas, BJ Editor Bruce Winges and Knight Foundation President Alberto Ibarguen.

Teachers who want to involve their students may contact Jacoway at

paul_jacoway@yahoo.com

or by phoning (330) 374-0237.

The documentary was underwritten by a grant from the Ohio Humanities Council, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.