Crusading Bee editor, American journalism subjects of author’s January talk

The life and impact of crusading Sacramento Bee editor Charles K. McClatchy, who led the newspaper into the 20th century, will be the topic of a talk by his biographer in January.

The book, “Charles K. McClatchy and the Golden Era of American Journalism,” was written by Steven M. Avella, professor of American history at Marquette University in Milwaukee. Avella, who was raised in Sacramento, has written other books about the capital, including “Sacramento and the Catholic Church.”

His new book focuses on McClatchy, who was a polished reporter – though not yet 25 – when his father, James McClatchy, died in 1883. He had risen from cub reporter at age 16 to virtually running the editorial side of the newspaper during his father’s last few years.

Charles McClatchy became a crusading journalist whose influence was great in Northern California at the turn of the 20th century and beyond. The book weaves the history of the north state with that of American newspapers.

Avella’s talk is sponsored by the Center for Sacramento History in association with the Sacramento History Alliance. It’s scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Center for Sacramento History, 551 Sequoia Pacific Blvd.

Advance tickets cost $10 and are available online only at www.centerforsacramentohistory.org.

Avella will sign copies of his book, which costs $37.

This story was originally published December 24, 2015 at 10:28 AM with the headline "Crusading Bee editor, American journalism subjects of author’s January talk."