Media leaders, others react to death of Sulzberger

Reaction to the death of former New York Times publisher Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, who died Saturday:

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"Punch, the old Marine captain who never backed down from a fight, was an absolutely fierce defender of the freedom of the press. His inspired leadership in landmark cases such as New York Times v. Sullivan and the Pentagon Papers helped to expand access to critical information and to prevent government censorship and intimidation." ? Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr., Sulzberger's son and the current publisher of the Times.

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"As an editor you knew that if you went to the publisher and sought his support on an issue that you deemed to be of high importance you could pretty much count on getting it. He knew how to back his people. ... As well as a publisher and a colleague he was a good friend. The last years have been extremely difficult with his health problems. He bore them with great courage. I admired him hugely." ? Former Times executive editor Joseph Lelyveld.

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"He was a firm believer in the importance of a free and independent press ? one that isn't afraid to seek the truth, hold those in power accountable, and tell the stories that need to be told." ? President Barack Obama.

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"It also became increasingly clear that the system of monarchy helped save the New York Times as a great newspaper. Punch made some bad calls as a businessman, along with some great ones, but by far the most important fact about him and his family was that they never wavered in their commitment to great journalism." ? Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof.

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"If you weren't around then, you forget the unbelievable outrage that greeted those sections. But in retrospect it was the right decision both editorially and economically." ? Nicholas Lemann, dean of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, on Sulzberger's move to expand the Times to sections such as Living and Metro.

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"Punch Sulzberger was a giant in the industry, a leader who fought to preserve the vital role of a free press in society and championed journalism executed at the highest level." ? Associated Press President and CEO Gary Pruitt.

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"With enormous power and authority he was as humble a person as you could ever meet. ... People with enormous power often dominate a room. He did not. And yet the power and authority was there." ? Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch.

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"I found him always a gentleman and always ready to at least listen." ? Public relations maven Howard Rubenstein, who brought many clients to meet with Sulzberger and Times editors.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/media-leaders-others-react-death-sulzberger-184509410.html

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