Milwaukee women’s page editor Jean Otto
I am beginning the collection of information about 1960s Milwaukee Journal women’s page editor Jean Otto. She wrote some amazing articles in the women’s sections – news about rape, workplace inequities and daycare issues. Dorothy Jurney and Vivian Castleberry described Jean as a progressive women’s page journalist.
In 1972, Jean became the first woman on the editorial board at the Milwaukee Journal – one of the first women in this position in the country. In 1979, she became the first female president of the Society of Professional Journalist – an organization that excluded women until 1969.
She led a national effort to have March 16 — the birthdate of James Madison — officially designated as Freedom of Information Day.
Those efforts resulted in a Congressional resolution signed by President Reagan. Otto helped organize the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council and is the founder of the Colorado Freedom of Information Council.
She went on to create the First Amendment Congress. I just ordered her memoir, First Love.
