Profile: John League
JohnLeague.JPG (51721 bytes)John started at The Herald-Mail in May 1979 as a reporter. He has worked there as a copy editor, Sunday editor, city editor, managing editor and executive editor before being appointed publisher in 1995. He currently serves as secretary for the MDDC Board of Directors and is chair of the Professional Development Committee.

 

PERSONAL:
Born April 18, 1955 in Charles Town, WV. Married for 20 years to April Dowler, who works as a family court judge. Two children: Elizabeth, 15, and John Philip, 10.

Education: West Virginia University, BSJ, 1977.

PROFESSIONAL:
Favorite part of your current job: "Being around a newsroom when a big story is breaking."

Least favorite thing about your job: "Unnecessary paperwork."

List and briefly describe your mentor: "Jim Schurz. He taught me that you don’t have to work for a metro paper to practice excellent journalism."

Biggest challenge: "Retaining and growing readership."

Most serious challenge to newsgatherers today: "Our credibility as an industry."

Main benefit you derive from MDDC membership: "Great people. Great programs."

FUN:
Fantasy job: "Power forward, 1983 Philadelphia 76ers."

Favorite music: "Rock, jazz."

Favorite car and the car you drive now: "No favorites. Drive a Catera."

Last book read: "Up in the Air" by Walter Kirn.

Last movie seen: "Enemy at the Gates"

Favorite TV show: "Frontline, NFL Primetime"

Hobbies: "Running."

Last vacation: "Cape Cod."

How would you most like to spend one day: "At any beach with my family."

Favorite quotation: "Lead, follow or get out of the way."

If you could be anyone else, who would you be? "I’m pretty happy being me."

If you could meet anyone else (at any time in history), who would it be? "Jesus Christ."

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