DETROIT, Nov. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Detroit Free Press Publisher Heath
Meriwether will kick off SPJ-Detroit's 2003-2004 program series with a verbal
memoir of his 16 years working in Detroit, entitled "If I Had It To Do Over
Again ..." He is retiring Dec. 31.
    Meriwether, 59, arrived in Detroit as executive editor of the Detroit Free
Press in 1987, one year into a divisive newspaper environment generated by
Knight Ridder Inc.'s and Gannett Co. Inc.'s attempt to create a joint
operating agreement.
    Meriwether was at the helm of the Free Press through another equally
bitter time for the newspapers, the Detroit Newspaper strike, July 1995-Feb.
1997. He was named Free Press publisher on Jan. 1, 1996.
    Under Meriwether's leadership as executive editor the Free Press won
Pulitzer Prizes in 1989 and 1990. A 1966 graduate from the University of
Missouri with bachelor's degrees in history and journalism, Meriwether also
received a graduate teaching degree from Harvard in 1967.
    He joined the Miami Herald in 1970 as a general assignment reporter,
progressing through the ranks to executive editor in 1983. While he held that
position, the Herald won four Pulitzer Prizes.
    Meriwether and his wife, Pat will be moving to Grand View in the Hudson
River Valley in New York to be near their two adult children.
    "If I Had It To Do Over Again ..." starts at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2 at
Mario's, 4220 Second Ave. in Detroit. The cost is $20 for SPJ Detroit chapter
members, $25 for non members and $16 for students. Dinner is included.
Reservations are required and may be obtained by calling SPJ at 586.739-7808
before Friday, November 28th.

    By Steve Raphael

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