Last Updated: August 18, 2000
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An American Editor
Bill Marimow
Birthday: Aug. 4, 1947
Hometown: Havertown, Pa.
Family: Married to Diane Macomb since 1969; children Ann, 28
and Scott, 20
Self-portrait in adjectives: Determined, tenacious, deliberate
and humanistic
Most dangerous story: Covering police violence in Philadelphia
during the late 1970s.
Best interview and why: Philadelphia Mayor Wilson Goode about
more than 20 suits he received through a clothing workers' union. When
I initially interviewed the mayor to ask him about the suits, he said that
he never asked for them and when he was billed, he paid. Later I found
the invoices that showed he had never been billed. While Goode technically
was telling the truth, he was misleading the public and I found the documents
to prove it.
My newspaper's strength: Solid in-depth reporting. Investigative
reporting. Literate journalism and competitive daily coverage.
Worst part of job: The endless stream of administrative detail.
Best part of job: The endless stream of good stories.
Bad habit: Postponing decisions that are likely to disappoint
a colleague.
Pet peeve: Reporters who lack competitive fire.
Vacation spot: A racquetball court
Books at bedside: "Joe Gould's Secret" by Joseph Mitchell and
"News Values" by Jack Fuller
Best advice I could give a 20-year-old: Follow up and follow
through. Make sure that every story you write has something special in
it.
My trademark expression: Excellent!
My best asset is: Keeping commitments.
Behind my back, employees say: "Stubborn to a fault."
Wish I were a leader like: Harry S Truman
Most difficult decision as a leader: Selecting a managing editor
from a field of 14 very qualified candidates.
Tips on leadership: Trust your instincts. Fight to the finish
on matters of bedrock principle.
What I worry about the most: That the quest for profits among
newspaper companies could hurt the requirement that we publish great stories.
