Remembering eyewitnesses to history

Oral History of S.C. Newspapers

dedicated to preserving the heritage of our state’s journalists and newspapers

On this site you’ll find interviews with some of South Carolina’s leading newspaper journalists from the past 70 years.

About

South Carolina’s 15 daily and 80+ weekly newspapers serve communities large and small across the state with news and information.

The Oral History Project is a joint effort of the S.C. Press Association and the University of South Carolina School of Journalism and Mass Communications. It is funded by the South Carolina Humanities Council

Our project’s goal is to interview some of South Carolina’s leading newspaper journalists from the last half century. Journalists have behind-the-scenes insight into the culture and values of the time. In addition to recalling stories from the past, we’ve interviewed journalists who have covered significant events and political figures in our state’s history. 

This project is important for scholars today and future generations who want to look back at our state’s unique and vibrant history. Newspapers have always been a vehicle to raise awareness and portray the values, beliefs and attitudes of the past and present.

Interviews

Jack Bass

Jack Bass

Journalist, Author, Professor
Charleston, SC

Jay Bender

Jay Bender

S.C. PRESS ASSOCIATION ATTORNEY
COLUMBIA, SC

Bill Collins

Bill Collins

THE SUMMERVILLE JOURNAL SCENE
SUMMERVILLE, SC

Emily Cooper

Emily Cooper

JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR
COLUMBIA, SC

Jim Davenport

Jim Davenport

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, THE STATE
COLUMBIA, SC

Herb Frazier

Herb Frazier

JOURNALIST, LECTURER, AUTHOR
CHARLESTON, SC

Lee Harter

Lee Harter

The Times and Democrat
Orangeburg, SC

Cathy Hughes

Cathy Hughes

The Times and Democrat
Orangeburg, SC

Scott Hunter

Scott Hunter

Aiken Standard
Aiken, SC

Carl Kilgus

Carl Kilgus

The Advertizer-Herald
Bamberg, SC

William Kinney

William Kinney

Marlboro Herald-Advocate
Bennettsville, SC

Kent Krell

Kent Krell

The Associated Press, The State Record
Columbia, SC

Dean Livingston

Dean Livingston

The Times and Democrat
Orangeburg, SC

Harry Logan

Harry Logan

Morning News, The State
Florence, SC

Tom McLean

Tom McLean

The Columbia Record
Columbia, SC

Hubert Osteen Jr.

Hubert Osteen Jr.

The Sumter Item
Sumter, SC

Bunny Richardson

Bunny Richardson

The State Record
Columbia, SC

Henry Schulte

Henry Schulte

newspaperman, educator, author
Vero Beach, FL

John Shurr

John Shurr

S.C. ASSOCIATED PRESS BUREAU CHIEF
S.C. PRESS ASSOCIATION FOI CHAIR
COLUMBIA, SC

Lou Sossamon

Louis Sossamon

THE GAFFNEY LEDGER
GAFFNEY, SC

Barbara Williams

Barbara Williams

The Post and Courier
Charleston, SC

Advice to up-and-coming journalists:

Memories of the S.C. Press Association:

If you have questions or need more information, reach out to us.

This program is funded by the South Carolina Humanities Council, whose mission is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. This program is co-sponsored by the University of South Carolina’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications.