Youngstown’s Sid Davis reminds us of the importance of public media

Thank you, The Vindicator, for publishing a thorough obituary on Oct. 31 of Youngstown-born journalist Sidney Alan “Sid” Davis (1927-2025).

I would like to add a point: Sid Davis’ death reminds us of the importance of public media. The public media station at Davis’ alma mater Ohio University (WOUB) recorded an informative three-part interview with Davis more than a decade ago.

In Part 1, Davis recalls his seven years as a journalist in Youngstown, covering the police beat, education, poverty, organized crime and more. Davis’ recollection of mob figures in the 1950s: “They were interesting characters.”

Based in Athens, WOUB serves 55 counties in southeast Ohio, western West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, and southwestern Pennsylvania. It trains broadcasting talent like Andrew DiPaolo of 21-WFMJ-TV in Youngstown.

DiPaolo graduated from Ohio University in 2014, the same year that WOUB recorded that fascinating interview with Youngstown native Sid Davis.

Public media — in addition to delivering news and training journalists — also serves an important archival function, preserving our history. Those interested in Davis can easily access high-quality recordings of his image and voice, recalling key events in America’s story.

Every obituary of Davis mentioned that he witnessed the swearing-in of President Lyndon B. Johnson aboard Air Force One after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963. The headline of The New York Times’ obituary was “Sid Davis, Reporter Who Witnessed Johnson’s Swearing-In, Dies at 97.”

The taped interviews with Davis at WOUB cover the Kennedy assassination and also provide context for President Johnson’s War on Poverty and Johnson’s ability to move legislation through Congress.

Nov. 13 is Davis’ birthday; he was born in Youngstown in 1927. As we remember his legacy, let’s also reaffirm our respect and appreciation for public media that serves most of America, trains journalists and preserves our history.

Tom Hodson is director emeritus of WOUB Public Media in Athens and the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University.