10 of the most powerful WNY women
Life at the top of One News Plaza:
Margaret M. Sullivan
By Camille P. Garcia
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Margaret M. Sullivan.
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The fact that it took well over a century for a native Lackawanna/Buffalo woman to be considered capable enough to run a newspaper speaks not about her intelligence or that of her gender but about the prevalent culture and its tendency to look the other way for so long.
Today, Margaret Sullivan holds the
unenviable yet exciting position of continually synthesizing each day’s news for a difficult-to-please audience with varied interests. As a local keeper of First Amendment freedoms, Sullivan treads carefully when the media spotlight is focused on her personal achievements.
Breaking with her policy of avoiding the limelight, Sullivan says she agreed to talk to Spree (after turning down previous requests) “because the timing felt right. … I’m trying to make myself more open and available than I have up until now—without going too far.” (A true team player, she stipulated that she not be singled out from the context of this special section.)
Her openness is echoed in a recent editorial contrasting the downfall of the local steel industry with the future of print media in the electronic age. Sullivan suggests that a big city daily doesn’t have to fold up over new technology trends. Instead, it can and should try harder to connect with its readers and its host community by addressing their interests.
“The Buffalo.com website, featuring the Buffalo News, is the most frequently viewed website in Western New York,” she notes. “There’s no question it can be better, and it will,” she predicts, explaining that the newspaper’s online presence is currently in a state of flux.
Reflecting on her own mentors, Sullivan praises “a highly accomplished, strong aunt who served as a dean of college students,” and her insightful Nardin High School English instructor Joanne Langan. “[Langan] encouraged me to work on the school newspaper, helping me to focus at an early age.” With prestigious degrees from Georgetown University and the Medill School of Journalism at Chicago’s Northwestern University in her pocket, Sullivan has invested twenty-six years at the News.
When asked about the current contentious state of affairs between the Bush White House and American journalists, Sullivan says, “This administration has been very difficult for the press. I understand the national security issues present in the aftermath of 9/11, but I also think shots have been taken at the First Amendment. It’s very troubling.”
Looking forward, with deep personal roots in Western New York, Sullivan sees her part in making Buffalo a good place to call home in her ability to inform the residents.
“I think the Buffalo News plays an important role, not to be an active participant in creating the news but to shine a light on the way government and business operates so people can judge for themselves. We’re doing our job best when we can fully inform people, and when we do take an active role, it’s in writing solution-oriented articles like the award-winning ‘Why Not Buffalo’ series we did. We didn’t create it with [awards] in mind, but it’s nice and appreciated when it comes.” She adds, “Sometimes provoking thought and discussion is a very productive function of the Buffalo News.”
Given that News owner Warren Buffett has announced he’ll give his billions to further philanthropic pursuits, I ask Sullivan if she thinks we’ll see any of it injected into our local economy. “No, we probably won’t see it have a direct impact here,” she replies. “It is an incredible act of generosity and will go more toward world health issues, but it may be possible that the Gates Scholarships will be affected in some way. It will be interesting to see.”
Sullivan, who is married to Buffalo News journalist Charles Anzalone, sees their children advancing through the school years and, like most working parents, she balances family commitments with work responsibilities. “That’s been challenging, but it is somewhat easier now that they’re teenagers,” she says. “There’s no perfect answer, no matter what kind of job you have. You’re always wanting to be at two places at once, and since you can’t, both my husband and I juggle.”
Their eldest, a son, has just graduated from high school, while a younger daughter has also just graduated from grade school, making this a big summer of transition. Sullivan uses tennis for stress relief and fitness and has elevated her game to a competetive 3.5 level United States Tennis Association rating.This September 20th marks Sullivan’s seventh year as editor of the News, and she’s just hitting her prime.
Camille P. Garcia is a freelance writer and photographer living in Buffalo.
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