John G. Craig Jr., former Post-Gazette editor, dies at age 77
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John G. Craig, Jr. -- The former Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editor was a leading media and civic figure in the Pittsburgh region for more than three decades.
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Former Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editor John G. Craig Jr., a probing, unconventional, forward-thinker who was a leading media and civic figure here for more than three decades, died Wednesday of metastatic melanoma at his home in Sewickley Heights.
He was 77, and until several weeks ago resembled the energetic, sometimes acerbic, idea-pusher who took the reins of the city's morning newspaper in 1977.
During his 26-year tenure which included major expansion of the Post-Gazette, he made it much more aggressive, creative and broadly focused -- emblematic of his own personal traits. He also oversaw a major expansion as a result of the Block Communications Inc. acquisition of its rival, The Pittsburgh Press, in late 1992.
In his later years, both as editor and after departure from the newspaper, Mr. Craig played a more visible public role spearheading creation of the Riverlife Task Force and directing efforts to objectively measure how the Pittsburgh region was faring compared to its counterparts.
Through his various roles, which included his weekly newspaper column and more recently articles in Pittsburgh Quarterly magazine, he could be among the biggest boosters of the region and at the same time one of those most likely to cogently explain its flaws.
Mr. Craig prided himself on his ability to think outside the box, provoke others to do their best work and to size up the potential of people, and his associates inside and outside of journalism recognized those attributes as well.
Post-Gazette publisher John Robinson Block noted Mr. Craig was his closest associate for more than 16 years. "He understood that journalists were more important, and more valuable, to a newspaper than were the printing presses," Mr. Block said.
"His insight on people approached genius. He was deft in selecting the best reporters and editors, and he fully stood behind his staff."
David Shribman, who became Post-Gazette executive editor in 2003, recalled Mr. Craig graciously introduced him around Pittsburgh and assured there would be a smooth transition to a new editor.
"John fought for and loved the Post-Gazette more than anyone could fight for and love an inanimate object, because for him the Post-Gazette represented vitality and life itself," Mr. Shribman said. He added that Mr. Craig created a Post-Gazette that "was not only alive but also lively."
First Published May 27, 2010 3:03 am
