Kill the Messenger: One Man's Fight Against Bigotry and Greed

Fortenberry's account of his victories and eventual defeat as a crusading newspaper editor in South Carolina is powerful. He left Florida to buy the McCormick Messenger , located in what he describes as one of the most backward counties in South Carolina, a land of good ol' boys who wanted no boat rockers in their community. When Fortenberry published stories on the questionable doings of the local sheriff, trouble began. Advertisers pulled out of the paper, his family was ostracized, his children were harassed at school. His crusade succeeded in unseating two successive sheriffs, and the persecution worsened. When bombs were set off on his property, Fortenberry decided to sell the paper and leave town, concluding that his fight could not be won. Photos not seen by PW. (May)