Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND005 - SHSND Foundation - Newspaper Hall of Fame
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 00016
Title: Raymond Dobson
Date: 2002
Creator:
Inscription/Marks:
Summary: Raymond C. Dobson (1902-1991) made newspapering in North Dakota his career for more than 71 years. He was born Dec. 5, 1902 at Parkers Prairie, Minn. His newspaper career began in 1919 at the age of 16 when he accepted a $3-a-day job as a bookkeeper at the Valley City Times Record. Because of his typing ability, he soon began transcribing Associated Press stories that were received by telephone. He became interested in reporting after writing his first "story" which read, in full, "I J. Moe went to Fargo today." He followed up on the breaking news a day or two later by reporting that Moe, a prominent Valley Citian, had returned home. He worked briefly for daily newspapers in Red Wing, Minn., and Chippewa Falls, Wis., before becoming city editor at the Minot Daily News, then owned by The Fargo Forum, in October 1921. Dobson established a reputation as a crime reporter and scored a "scoop" in 1931 with his report on what was known as the "Bannon Case," the last lynching in North Dakota. Publisher Hal Davies appointed Dobson as business manager of the newspaper, and in 1938 Davies and Dobson purchased The Daily News. Dobson was recognized as one of the foremost figures in North Dakota newspapering. He was active as a builder, promoter and leader in journalistic, civic, fraternal, and charitable organizations. He served as president of the North Dakota Press Association in 1944 and also served as president of the Northwest Daily Press Association, the Minot Association of Commerce and Minot Kiwanis Club. He was the Grand Exalted Ruler of the national Elks organization in 1966. He was also active in the American Newspaper Publishers Association. During his association with The Daily News, Dobson filled the roles of city editor, business manager, editor, publisher, and president. After the newspaper was sold in 1985, he was named publisher emeritus, an honorary title he held until his death in 1991. Dobson's son, Dick, who was associated with the Daily News for many years, said his father came from "another era of newspapering, one of typewriters, editing pencils, Linotypes, and proofreaders. But it would be well for modern, practitioners of the trade to emulate his examples and qualities. He demanded fairness, objectivity and editorial excellence. He thought a newspaper should be a zero-defect product, no mistakes, no typographical errors, no misprints."
Red ID: FND_I_77456 Image ID: 509275 Image Notes: 10950 00005 00016

Collection: FND005 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - Newspaper Hall of Fame
Date:

Summary: The Hall of Honors features the biographies of recognized leaders in North Dakota's newspaper industry. This resource is sponsored by the North Dakota Newspaper Association and the NDNA Education Foundation.

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