James S. Free
Encyclopedia
James Stillman Free was an American journalist
whose 50 years of Washington-based reporting included coverage of 10 presidential administrations, seven national political conventions, the Cold War
, labor relations
, civil rights
, and the space program.
For 33 years he served as the Washington correspondent for the Birmingham News. In a Congressional Record tribute, Sen. Howell Heflin
of Alabama
said of Free, "his name and writings became synonymous with Alabama political coverage and analysis in the nation's capital." Because of his pivotal reporting during the civil rights struggle, Free had unusually open access to Attorney General Robert Kennedy.
Free was chairman of the Standing Committee of Correspondents of the Congressional Press Galleries and was president of the Washington chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists
, as well as a member of its hall of fame.
For many years Free served as the historian of the Gridiron Club
, an organization of Washington journalists. He wrote a book about the club's history, entitled, "The First One Hundred Years: A Casual Chronicle of the Gridiron Club".
Before establishing the Birmingham News bureau in Washington, Free worked for the paper in Birmingham
, and for the Richmond Times-Dispatch
, the Washington Star
, the Chicago Sun and the Raleigh News & Observer.
His reporting received recognition from the Raymond Clapper Award Committee for coverage of national affairs and he received an outstanding alumnus award from the University of Alabama
.
Free, a native of Gordo, who grew up in Tuscaloosa, received his bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama and his master's degree in journalism from Columbia University
.
In 1932, Free briefly partnered with L. Ron Hubbard
, who later founded the Church of Scientology
. They co-directed an unsuccessful sailing expedition in the Caribbean on the Doris Hamlin, which was to have included the production of a film and the collection of flora and fauna. Detailed accounts of this adventure are available in Free's personal biography and in an oral history taken by the National Press Club.
Free served in the U.S. Navy in the Caribbean and Pacific during World War II and retired from the Naval Reserve
as a captain in 1968.
In 1950 he married journalist Ann Cottrell Free
and for a time they co-authored Whirligig, a daily syndicated column about Washington politics.
His professional papers are in the manuscript division of the Library of Congress
and his professional oral history is in the collection of the National Press Club.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
whose 50 years of Washington-based reporting included coverage of 10 presidential administrations, seven national political conventions, the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, labor relations
Labor relations
Industrial relations is a multidisciplinary field that studies the employment relationship. Industrial relations is increasingly being called employment relations because of the importance of non-industrial employment relationships. Many outsiders also equate industrial relations to labour relations...
, civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
, and the space program.
For 33 years he served as the Washington correspondent for the Birmingham News. In a Congressional Record tribute, Sen. Howell Heflin
Howell Heflin
Howell Thomas Heflin was a United States Senator from Tuscumbia, Alabama, and a member of the Democratic Party.-Biography:...
of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
said of Free, "his name and writings became synonymous with Alabama political coverage and analysis in the nation's capital." Because of his pivotal reporting during the civil rights struggle, Free had unusually open access to Attorney General Robert Kennedy.
Free was chairman of the Standing Committee of Correspondents of the Congressional Press Galleries and was president of the Washington chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists
Society of Professional Journalists
The Society of Professional Journalists , formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is one of the oldest organizations representing journalists in the United States. It was established in April 1909 at DePauw University, and its charter was designed by William Meharry Glenn. The ten founding members of...
, as well as a member of its hall of fame.
For many years Free served as the historian of the Gridiron Club
Gridiron Club
The Gridiron Club and Foundation, founded in 1885, is the oldest and one of the most prestigious journalistic organizations in Washington, D.C. Its 65 active members represent major newspapers, news services, news magazines and broadcast networks. Membership is by invitation only and has...
, an organization of Washington journalists. He wrote a book about the club's history, entitled, "The First One Hundred Years: A Casual Chronicle of the Gridiron Club".
Before establishing the Birmingham News bureau in Washington, Free worked for the paper in Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, and for the Richmond Times-Dispatch
Richmond Times-Dispatch
The Richmond Times-Dispatch is the primary daily newspaper in Richmond the capital of Virginia, United States, and is commonly considered the "newspaper of record" for events occurring in much of the state...
, the Washington Star
Washington Star
The Washington Star, previously known as the Washington Star-News and the Washington Evening Star, was a daily afternoon newspaper published in Washington, D.C. between 1852 and 1981. For most of that time, it was the city's newspaper of record, and the longtime home to columnist Mary McGrory and...
, the Chicago Sun and the Raleigh News & Observer.
His reporting received recognition from the Raymond Clapper Award Committee for coverage of national affairs and he received an outstanding alumnus award from the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
.
Free, a native of Gordo, who grew up in Tuscaloosa, received his bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama and his master's degree in journalism from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
.
In 1932, Free briefly partnered with L. Ron Hubbard
L. Ron Hubbard
Lafayette Ronald Hubbard , better known as L. Ron Hubbard , was an American pulp fiction author and religious leader who founded the Church of Scientology...
, who later founded the Church of Scientology
Church of Scientology
The Church of Scientology is an organization devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. The Church of Scientology International is the Church of Scientology's parent organization, and is responsible for the overall ecclesiastical management, dissemination and...
. They co-directed an unsuccessful sailing expedition in the Caribbean on the Doris Hamlin, which was to have included the production of a film and the collection of flora and fauna. Detailed accounts of this adventure are available in Free's personal biography and in an oral history taken by the National Press Club.
Free served in the U.S. Navy in the Caribbean and Pacific during World War II and retired from the Naval Reserve
United States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
as a captain in 1968.
In 1950 he married journalist Ann Cottrell Free
Ann Cottrell Free
Ann Cottrell Free was an American journalist who wrote extensively on animal protection issues.Free was born in Richmond, Virginia on June 4, 1916...
and for a time they co-authored Whirligig, a daily syndicated column about Washington politics.
His professional papers are in the manuscript division of the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
and his professional oral history is in the collection of the National Press Club.