Metro Monthly
VALLEY UPDATE
New book compiles de Souza’s columns V
eteran Mahoning Valley journalist Bertram de Souza’s first book, “No Holds Barred,” a compilation of some of his most celebrated — and most controversial — columns and other writings, became available for order on Aug. 31, exactly one year from the day The (Youngstown) Vindicator closed. The book includes about 300 of de Souza’s more than 1,600 columns penned over 36 of his 40 years with The Vindicator, as well as newspaper archive photographs and drawings. “No Holds Barred” also includes a chapter featuring de Souza’s wry humor, as well as individual pieces by former Vindicator staffers. The 368-page book is divided into 11 chapters on topics including James A. Traficant Jr., a comparison of the Obama and Trump presidencies, organized crime, General Motors, Youngstown State University, politics and public corruption. The book was designed by award-winning former Vindicator art director Robert McFerren. The project relied on the input of a small group of former Vindicator staffers, including de Souza, Cynthia Rickard, McFerren, and Ernie Brown. “We all read each of the columns and graded them. The ones with the highest grades are the ones that made it into the book,” de Souza said. For more than 150 years, The Vindicator was a staple in Mahoning Valley life and culture. The announcement of the daily newspaper’s impending closure last year brought cries of regret — and some actual tears — from many area residents. IMAGE COURTESY OF THE SCRIBBLER PUBLISHING GROUP The journalists and others who were ‘No Holds Barred,’ a compilation of Bertram de Souza’s most celebrated — and most working at the paper were similarly controversial — columns and other writings, became available for order on Aug. 31. shaken, so a group from The Vindicator newsroom quickly agreed something was needed to memorialize the exceptional role the paper played in the region. podcast featuring veteran Youngstown Vindi- current state of the news industry in the United “No Holds Barred” is published by cator journalists is now available for viewing States and the void that’s created when a commuThe Scribbler Publishing Group, LLC, on the Podcast Page at www.scribblergroup.com. nity’s leading voice is silenced. It was released on Aug. 31 – on the one-year De Souza, Rickard, McFerren and Brown are Youngstown, Ohio. Orders for the book, which can be autographed and personal- anniversary of the closing of the 150-year-old part of the team that developed “No Holds newspaper. Barred,” a book that pays homage to The Vindiized, can be placed starting at scribblerThe journalists, Bertram de Souza, Cynthia Rick- cator. The book contains a large selection of de group.com. ard, Robert McFerren and Ernie Brown, reflect on Souza’s columns published during his 40 years Copies also will be available from other their long tenures with The Vindicator and how the with the paper, essays by team members, letters closing has affected their lives. They also discuss the and historical photos. booksellers in the near future.
New podcast marks closing of the Vindicator
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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 METRO MONTHLY VALLEY UPDATE 11
