Larry N. Jordan: Difference between revisions

Larry Jordan's interest in journalism began in 1963, when he received a small [[printing press]] as a Christmas gift from his parents.<ref name=E&P>Winston Mill, [httphttps://www.archive.org/details/At19AlreadyAPublisherFourYears1972 "At 19 Already a Publisher Four Years,"] ''Editor and Publisher,'' December 2, 1972, pp. 30-31.</ref> The boy started a newspaper for his [[Cedar Rapids, Iowa|Cedar Rapids]], [[Iowa]] neighborhood as a hobby and stuck with the task long enough to develop a basic understanding of the publishing business.<ref name=E&P />

In September 1968, while still a 15-year -old high school student, Jordan decided to try his hand at launching a city-widecitywide newspaper.<ref name=E&P /> Bankrolled with a $50 loan from his mother, Jordan launched an 8-page [[tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]], the ''Cedar Rapids Press-American,'' with physical production handled by a local job printer.<ref name=E&P /> The publication rapidly gained readership and advertiser acceptance and grew, to the point where by 1972 the paper had become one of the largest-selling non-daily newspapers in the state of Iowa, running 28 pages in length and produced by a part-time staff of seven.<ref name=E&P /> The paper's total circulation in 1972 exceeded 11,500.<ref name=E&P />

At 21, Jordan joined the staff of the fledgling [[Kirkwood Community College]]. His work as a technical grants writer brought over $4 million into the college's coffers, including helping to fund [[KCCK-FM]], an award-winning student radio station.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}

Jordan also became involved in the political process, working as a speech writer and issues strategist in the Congressional campaign of [[Tom Riley (Iowa politician)|Tom Riley]]. He later played a similar rollrole in the more successful Congressional campaign of [[Tom Tauke]], before becoming the Executive Director of the [[Linn County, Iowa|Linn County]] [[Republican Party (U.S.)|Republican Party]]. Jordan doubled fundraising goals, raising enough money for the party to field a whole slate of candidates for state office.<ref name=CRG770815>''Cedar Rapids Gazette,'' August 15, 1977.</ref> Describing an event Jordan held, the ''Cedar Rapids Gazette'' reported

"it exuded class. [[Cadillac|Cadillacs]]s and [[Lincoln Continental|Continentals]] were prominent in the parking lot. The guest list was most impressive. The major law firms were represented, as was the medical fraternity. Just about every Cedar Rapids businessman of note either bought tickets or was there in person.... The 400 or so personages who packed the Longbranch ate a special menu and drank wine by candlelight as a quartet of musicians played... The whole affair was choreographed by program chairman Larry Jordan...[whose] concept proved successful."<ref name=CRG770815 /></blockquote>

In 1981, Jordan became the publisher and editor of ''Front Lines,'' a monthly [[tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]] newspaper delivered free to the homes of more than 50,000 Cedar Rapidians.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}} He subsequently moved to [[Florida]], where he did freelance writing andfor helpedabout producefive anyears award-winningbefore series{{Citationreturning needed|date=Marchto 2012}}Iowa onand mentalbecoming healtha issuespublisher that aired on [[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]] TV station [[WJKS]], Jordan then returned to Iowaagain.

In 1992, Larry Jordan launched a glossy regional magazine called ''Midwest Today,'' for which he still serves as editor and publisher. ItHis wife, Julie Campbell-Jordan, is associate publisher and heads advertising sales. The magazine offers feature articles, interviews with prominent individuals, and investigative reports.<ref name=CMP>Larry Jordan, "About the Author," in "Jim Reeves: His Untold Story," ''Country Music People,'' October 2011, pg. 24.</ref> Among the magazine's significant stories was one penned by Jordan himself that attracted nationwide attention, called "The Secret JFK Files, New Evidence and the Midwest Connection." It took almost a year to write and included interviews with sources overlooked by the [[Warren Commission]] in its report. A lengthy12-page "think piece" Jordan wrote called "The Troubling Legacy Ofof Ronald Reagan," attracted the attention of Presidentthen-Gov. Bill Clinton, whoas calledhe was embarking on his successful campaign for the Presidency. Clinton was so intrigued by it he met with Jordan, and then sent him a letter calling the story "very impressive," saidsaying "I'm glad I had the opportunity to read it," and confirmed "I agree with much of it, as you may guess."{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}} Commenting on a different article by Jordan, [[U.S. Secretary of State]] [[Hillary Clinton]] wrote " your analysis and argument hits the mark. I only wish others paid more attention to the evidence which is there for all to see of what is really happening."{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}

In 1997, Jordan launched a weekly radio show on AM radio station [[WMT (AM)|WMT]] in Cedar Rapids called the ''Midwest Today Radio Edition'' based on the contents of the magazine. The program is now carried by 52 stations across 10 states.<ref name=CMP />

[[Category:PeopleWriters from Cedar Rapids, Iowa]]

[[Category:American publishers (people)]]

[[Category:American male non-fiction writers]]