St. Louis Media History Foundation recognizes newspaper journalists

In April, the St. Louis Media History Foundation (SLMHF) honored 15 media professionals in the fields of television, print, radio and advertising/public relations, at its Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Six of the honorees are or were associated with the area’s newspapers.

Normal “Tweed” Webb, a longtime sports editor at the St. Louis Argus, was honored posthumously for his coverage of Negro League and local Tandy League baseball. Beyond reporting, his work helped preserve records and elevate players whose contributions had been overlooked by mainstream media.

Webb’s reporting and archival work contributed to the eventual induction of James “Cool Papa” Bell into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, underscoring the role local journalism can play in shaping national sports history.

Donald E. Franklin, also honored posthumously, was among the earliest Black journalists at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Joining the newspaper in 1967, he worked as a reporter, copy editor and assistant city editor, covering crime and community issues.

He later co-founded the Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists, which launched the nation’s first Urban Journalism Workshop in 1977. The program created a pipeline for Black students to enter print and broadcast media, an effort that continues to influence newsroom diversity initiatives.

Alvin Reid, current city editor of the St. Louis American and a panelist on Nine PBS’ “Donnybrook,” is among those who came through that Urban Journalism Workshop pipeline. He credited the American and publisher Donald M. Suggs with providing early career opportunities.

“I would not be here without the St. Louis American,” Reid said, noting his career has included stops at daily newspapers across several states and national publications, including USA Today Baseball Weekly, the St. Louis Globe-Democrat and The St. Louis Business Journal. In 2024, the National Association of Black Journalists named Reid as one of its Living Legends.

Robert “Bob” Duffy wrote about painting and sculpture, classical music, opera, theater, and literature, and photography during his 32-year career at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch; in 1978 and 1979, he served as a juror for the Pulitzer Prizes in photography.  Among his titles over that long span were architecture critic, arts editor and cultural news editor, as well as night city desk reporter, editorial writer and editor of the Everyday Magazine.

Following his retirement from the newspaper, Duffy helped form the St. Louis Beacon, an online news site created by former Post-Dispatch employees that launched in 2008, when digital-only news outlets were rare. The St. Louis Beacon later merged with St. Louis Public Radio in 2013. In 2014, Duffy was named Media Person of the Year by the St. Louis Press Club. Duffy died in February 2025.

Richard “Dick” Weiss has been a key facet of the St. Louis media scene for more than five decades. Weiss served as a writer, editor and eventually writing coach at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for more than 30 years. He oversaw the development of enterprise stories, with a particular emphasis on narrative writing. He also held training seminars for a newsroom staff of 300 reporters and editors, and coached reporters one-on-one.

Prior to leaving the Post-Dispatch in 2005, he developed WeissWrite, where he has provided a writing, editing and coaching service for anyone with a story to tell. In 2008, he became one of the founders of the St. Louis Beacon. Throughout his career, Weiss has focused on bringing up young, upstart writers and helping those, especially in minority areas, develop their writing expertise.

Finally, SLMHF recognized the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s photography staff for its work in 2014 documenting the events in Ferguson, work which would eventually win the Pulitzer Prize for news photography the following year. The Pulitzer Committee praised them “For powerful images of the despair and anger in Ferguson, Mo., stunning photojournalism that served the community while informing the country.”

The photo entry featured 19 images capturing the poignant emotions immediately after the shooting in Ferguson through the vigils and protests, which devolved into the looting and rioting the day after the August 9 police shooting.

This report was compiled from press releases, prior Missouri Press News reports and reporting from The St. Louis American.