Robert Emmett Ginna Jr. (b. 1925) is a retired magazine reporter and editor, a film producer and screenwriter, and a Harvard faculty member. He co-founded People magazine, served as its first editor, and later was Editor-in-Chief of Little Brown.
Ginna was born to Robert Emmett Ginna, a Rochester Gas and Electric executive, and his wife, the former Margaret McCall, both descended from Irish immigrants. [1] [2] [3] Ginna and his father were named for Robert Emmett, an Irish revolutionary who was executed by British authorities in 1803. [3] After an admission to Harvard College, Ginna enlisted in the Navy at age 17, serving in the Pacific during World War Two. [3] He graduated from the University of Rochester in 1948, [4] and went on to get a Master's in Art History from Harvard University. [3]
In his early career, Ginna worked as a reporter and editor for Horizon, Life, and Scientific American. [2] In 1955, Ginna interviewed Sean O'Casey for NBC television; A decade later, Ginna would produce a film about O'Casey. [5] [6] In 1960, Ginna interviewed filmmaker Stanley Kubrick for Horizon. [7] [8]
In February 1962, Ginnna authored "Life in the Afternoon", an essay about meeting Ernest Hemingway in 1958 Cuba. [9] [10]
During the 1960s, Ginna was a screeenwriter and film producer. Ginna worked with famous filmmaker John Ford on the film Young Cassidy, but Ford had to be replaced mid-shoot. [11] [12]
In 1974, Ginna co-founded People magazine and served as its first Editor-in-Chief. [13] From 1977 to 1980, Ginna was the Editor-in-Chief of Little Brown Publishing ; In that role, he was influential in writer James Salter's switch from screenplays to novels. [14]
From 1988 to 2002, Ginna served on the faculty of Harvard University, teaching writing and filmmaking. In 2003, Ginna authored The Irish Way: A Walk Through Ireland's Past and Present. [15] [16]
In 2006, Ginna was profiled for his role in creating an academic press at New England College. [17]
Ginna married Margaret Williams; The pair had two children. She died in 2004. [24] In 2017, their son dedicated his book What Editors Do to his parents. [25] After his wife's death, Ginna was the companion of journalist Gail Sheehy, who died in 2020 at the age of 83. [26]
Robert Emmett Ginna Jr. (b. 1925) is a retired magazine reporter and editor, a film producer and screenwriter, and a Harvard faculty member. He co-founded People magazine, served as its first editor, and later was Editor-in-Chief of Little Brown.
Ginna was born to Robert Emmett Ginna, a Rochester Gas and Electric executive, and his wife, the former Margaret McCall, both descended from Irish immigrants. [1] [2] [3] Ginna and his father were named for Robert Emmett, an Irish revolutionary who was executed by British authorities in 1803. [3] After an admission to Harvard College, Ginna enlisted in the Navy at age 17, serving in the Pacific during World War Two. [3] He graduated from the University of Rochester in 1948, [4] and went on to get a Master's in Art History from Harvard University. [3]
In his early career, Ginna worked as a reporter and editor for Horizon, Life, and Scientific American. [2] In 1955, Ginna interviewed Sean O'Casey for NBC television; A decade later, Ginna would produce a film about O'Casey. [5] [6] In 1960, Ginna interviewed filmmaker Stanley Kubrick for Horizon. [7] [8]
In February 1962, Ginnna authored "Life in the Afternoon", an essay about meeting Ernest Hemingway in 1958 Cuba. [9] [10]
During the 1960s, Ginna was a screeenwriter and film producer. Ginna worked with famous filmmaker John Ford on the film Young Cassidy, but Ford had to be replaced mid-shoot. [11] [12]
In 1974, Ginna co-founded People magazine and served as its first Editor-in-Chief. [13] From 1977 to 1980, Ginna was the Editor-in-Chief of Little Brown Publishing ; In that role, he was influential in writer James Salter's switch from screenplays to novels. [14]
From 1988 to 2002, Ginna served on the faculty of Harvard University, teaching writing and filmmaking. In 2003, Ginna authored The Irish Way: A Walk Through Ireland's Past and Present. [15] [16]
In 2006, Ginna was profiled for his role in creating an academic press at New England College. [17]
Ginna married Margaret Williams; The pair had two children. She died in 2004. [24] In 2017, their son dedicated his book What Editors Do to his parents. [25] After his wife's death, Ginna was the companion of journalist Gail Sheehy, who died in 2020 at the age of 83. [26]