Fighting Words

<p><i>Fighting Words</i> profiles five journalists who published the truth as they saw it no matter how their reporting angered politicians social and religious leaders or other journalists.</p> <p>The five journalists are William Brann (1855-1898) Don Biggers (1868-1957) John Granbery (1874-1953) Archer Fullingim (1902-1984) and Stoney Burns [Brent Stein] (1942-2011). Though they lived in different eras all these men dealt with issues that society continues to face-racism official corruption religious freedom educational reform political extremism of the left and right the clash of urban and rural values and the fear of change. Their lives and work constitute a unique alternative perspective on Texas history and the history of journalism itself.</p> <p>In addition to the troubling questions they raised on social issues these independent journalists challenge us as they challenged the mainline media of their own times to define the function of journalism and to examine the mandate of the First Amendment. We may doubt the wisdom of some of their convictions but not the courage they needed to express them in the face of ridicule hostility intimidation and even death. More than the specific causes they fought for the independents' passion for truth and their absolute belief in free speech constitute their greatest legacy to us and to journalism.</p>