Oral History Interview with Dotty Griffith, November 21, 2014 Page: 1 of 38
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Interview with Dotty Griffith
Ashleigh Cue:
What got you into journalism?
Dotty Griffith:
What got me into journalism? I just knew that's what I wanted to do. I started University of
Texas wanting to go journalism and I did, had a great career. I always knew that's what I
was going to do. I guess partly because it gives you an excuse to talk to anybody and
everybody about anything. [Laughs] And, you know it's just a great way to learn about
people and life, you become an observer of many different things as you go through. And,
it's an access to power and an access to people who are interesting and have things to say.
It's just a great way to yack your way through life.
Ashleigh Cue:
Did you always enjoy writing and stuff like that as well?
Dotty Griffith:
Yea, although I will say I'm probably like every writer, it feels a whole lot better when you're
done. It's kind of like running. Especially now, I enjoy the act of writing a lot more than I
used to. But yeah, I guess I've always been a writer.
Nathan Battaglia:
I'd like for us to get something about you in high school and childhood, where did you grow
up and what were your interests.
Dotty Griffith:
Well I grew up in Terrell, Texas which is about 30 miles east, and we didn't have a school
paper. So, I guess maybe that's one reason I was really anxious to go into
journalism. Because it would be my first opportunity t practice it. My interests growing up
were horses and pretty much a small town girl growing up, you know, I was a cheerleader...
I started college in 1968 which was an amazing time so much change and so much turmoil.
I think the fact that journalists.were chronicling all the change and turmoil that was going on
at the time, the first draft of history as they say, that really appealed to me to understand,
because I knew where Berkley was and I knew about the student protest because of Time
magazine and Newsweek. You know, the in depth coverage which was beyond what you
got in a newspaper was very illuminating to me. That was my window into what was
happening in the real world, as opposed to small town east Texas. There wasn't a lot
happening. [laughs]
Aaron Starnes:
When were you able to marry food and you passion for writing. When were you able to see
that as a viable career option?
Dotty Griffith:
When I first started at the morning news,Aaron Starnes:
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Cue, Ashleigh; Starnes, Aaron; Battaglia, Nathan; Yavari, Mehri & Griffith, Dotty. Oral History Interview with Dotty Griffith, November 21, 2014, text, November 21, 2014; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth586994/m1/1/: accessed July 9, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Frank W. and Sue Mayborn School of Journalism.