Interview: Harry Deitz Jr.
Date of Interview: March 25, 2022
Place of Interview: Reading, Pennsylvania
Interviewer: Ford Risley
Biographical Summary
Harry Deitz Jr. was born in Shamokin, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Bloomsburg State College (now Bloomsburg University) with a B.A. in education. His father was city editor of the Shamokin News-Item, and Deitz worked there as a photographer while in school. After graduating, he served as sports editor of the Citizen Standard. He later joined the News-Item as sports editor. In 1978, he moved to the Reading Eagle as a sportswriter. He spent the next 40 years at the Eagle in a variety of positions, including as editor from 2008 to 2018 when he retired.
Interview Highlights
Deitz speaks about his family, including the influence of his father who was a journalist; about his education and working at newspapers while he was in school; about the various newspapers where he worked; about joining the Reading Eagle and moving through the ranks to become editor; about the role of the newspaper in the city; about important stories the newspaper covered; about writing a weekly column; and about the changes in the newspaper business.