Marks GS '86 takes over as chief editor of Alumni Weekly

Marilyn Marks GS '86, former University spokeswoman, takes over today as the editor of the Princeton Alumni Weekly — under a curtain of speculation that the University is exerting influence over the century-old magazine.

Marks, who is the fourth editor in four years and second since the magazine became substantially subsidized by the University, takes the helm from Jane Chapman Martin '89, who has led the editorial staff since February 2000.

Marks and Chapman Martin are similar in many ways. Their entrances into and exits out of the journalism world have depended significantly on choices in raising their children.

At the same time that Chapman Martin became PAW editor, Marks took a job in the communications office, a position that allowed her to meld her avid interests in education and communications while allotting her enough time to concentrate on raising a child.

A veteran journalist who has worked at The Miami Herald, Marks investigated school reform in south Florida for several years. Her background in journalism made Marks a strong candidate for the PAW editorship, said Todd Purdum '82, chairman of the PAW board and chief diplomatic correspondent of The New York Times.

"She has her own experience in journalism, an own clear sense — as revealed within the search committee," he said.

Marks comes in strong with ideas on what direction the magazine should take.

"I want alumni to get a very good sense of what Princeton is today," Marks said, outlining her major goals for the magazine. Marks plans to add pages for alumni, faculty and student contributions.

"I also want to present the intellectual side of campus too . . . more in-depth, substantive looks at campus life," she said.

Marks highlighted the need to satisfy the community's different constituencies. She stressed that the only thing that ties PAW readers together is the University.

"People have different interests, politics and even different Princeton experiences," she said.

A new PAW editor marks one of several major changes to the magazine over the past few years.

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Chapman Martin is known best for revamping the logo and overall design of PAW.

"For the first time, we hired a full-time art designer, and the editorial and graphic departments worked together," Chapman Martin said. She added "Snapshots" of daily life of undergraduates in every issue and launched PAW Online.

In 2000, the publication went under the alumni community's knife of scrutiny. To shoulder the financial burden of paying for the magazine with alumni dues, the University took over half of the publication's expenses.

PAW issues from 2000 are replete with letters to the editor from alumni who were concerned that the magazine's editorial independence was in jeopardy.

But Purdum said the magazine has stayed true to its goal of being "by and for alumni."

"Editorially, I would be hard-pressed to point out that the magazine has changed," he said. "The University has assumed control of day-to-day issues and personnel issues. But the magazine's board is made up of a majority of journalists and is committed to the ideas of free press."

However, Stephen Dujack '76 asserted that the alumni magazine's independence has been breached, and editorial modifications that may have come with the change in PAW's governance in 2000 may not be perceived.

"How do you know what is left out? It can't be perceived," Dujack said. "An advocate of the alumni body without partiality? That's not true anymore [of the magazine]. There's no guarantee about partiality. You don't know what you don't see."

However, Chapman Martin holds that the change in governance had no affect on the editorial leadership.

"The University was obviously very dedicated to keeping the walls between the magazine and administration," she said. "They are very hands-off. And I have never felt any pressure to cover something or not cover something."

"Any pro-University bias was solely mine," she added.

The debate commenced before Chapman Martin came aboard and will no doubt continue. Under Marks, a graduate of the Wilson School, she promises to uphold the magazine's motto.

"I will fully attempt to keep PAW independent," she said. "The magazine will continue to be independent. I understand the concerns people have, but they will be surprised."