The Press: The Eagle Tradition

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Its staffers mutter about low salaries and heavy work loads but find brief reportorial stints stretching into lifelong careers at what they call "the tender trap." It has also been described as "40 freelance writers working under the same roof and (by Boston Globe Editor Tom Winship) as the best newspaper "of its size in the country." Such encomiums disturb the Yankee equanimity of Lawrence K. ("Pete") Miller, 65, owner, editor and publisher of the Berkshire (Mass.) Eagle, who attributes the paper's reputation for class to "accidents of inheritance, age, personality, location, and the like." Whatever the reasons, the Eagle, with a circulation of only 32,000, successfully struggles against the trend toward mediocrity among small-city papers. It offers literate, thorough coverage of its own area and responsible attention to national and international news.

As the only paper in town, the Eagle is required reading in Pittsfield (pop. 57,020) and in the surrounding 941 sq. mi. of Berkshire County, whose rural hills have lured many New Yorkers and Bostonians into seasonal or permanent residence. The paper often seems to be written for the city folk. In the summer, its entertainment pages become a sophisticated guide to music at Tanglewood, drama at the Berkshire Playhouse, and dance at Jacob's Pillow.

The paper's makeup is professional, its contents meaty. Its front page spreads four or five stories into eyecatching horizontal layouts, with few runovers into back pages and a generous use of pictures and white space.

Next to its editorial page, the Eagle reprints for its afternoon readers some material from the New York Times Op-Ed Page, but also publishes the work of nearly 20 local columnists; such notables as James MacGregor Burns and William Shirer contribute occasional book reviews. The second section is crammed with items from the 32 communities in Berkshire County, gathered by a network of 23 stringers. Political Editor A.A. Michelson's weekly column on Massachusetts affairs now runs in nine other New England papers, including the Boston Globe.

The Eagle keeps a close and critical eye on the local General Electric plant, employer of two-thirds of Pittsfield's work force. Last winter, Richard K. Weil, the Eagle's industry and labor reporter, was barred from a GE press conference in New York after he reported the destruction by GE officials of a company-published—and pessimistic—business forecast for 1972.

Angry Mayor. The full-time editorial staff of 35 is large for a paper of its circulation, and unusually literate. A number of the writers have published books and two—Columnist Hal Borland and Cultural Editor Milton Bass—have also done screenplays.

Salaries are modest ($216 a week for reporters with seven years or more experience), but staffers enjoy considerable freedom. Some who had planned to use the Eagle as a steppingstone decided to remain. Recalls Weil: "I walked in and got a summer job eleven years ago and I'm still here."