Mary Allienne Hamilton spent many hours in J.W. Gitt's library, pictured here, in researching her Gitt biography "Rising from the Wilderness," published by the York County Heritage Trust (see additional photo below). Background posts: Cuban expert Jim Higgins: 'He was just another journalist ... with opinions', York newspaperman J.W. Gitt rejected Barry Goldwater's ad money and McCarthy probe could not corral York County's Gitt.
Mary Hamilton's "J.W. Gitt and His Legendary Newspaper: 'The Gazette and Daily' of York, Pa." has captured a major national award.
Her biography of this maverick newspaper owner won "Best Book in Media History" in
American Journalism Historians Association judging.
It was up against Harry Reasoner's biography, the press and the early abolition movement and the origins of mass culture, among other entries.
Judges comments follow:
