Respected GAM Editor Steps Down

Earl W. Wilken, who in the last two decades was instrumental in advancing the desktop publishing and digital imaging revolutions in the worldwide printing industry and in disseminating information about new media developments, has stepped down from his full-time duties as associate editor of Graphic Arts Monthly .

"After nearly half a century in the publishing and communications industries, including nearly 20 years with us, Earl is ready to take on some new challenges, including several independent projects, special assignments, and work on a play, tentatively titled 'Waiting for D,' that he began some years ago," says Roger Ynostroza, editor in chief of Graphic Arts Monthly.

Ynostroza continues, "The global graphic arts industry owes a real debt of gratitude to Earl. He continually foresaw the impact of important technological breakthroughs and urged the industry to learn more about using–not fearing–those leading-edge solutions. He then became a catalyst in the implementation of new approaches while championing the need for operating standards at each stage of development.

"At the same time, like the best editors, he constantly challenged vendors' claims, product managers' rosy projections, and marketing consultants' breathless optimism about emerging technologies, so that the industry at large would be better served in its understanding and adoption of those approaches."

Adds GAM managing editor Christopher R. Yeich, "With his writing, editing, and counsel, Earl helped us all not only to understand technology and to become comfortable with it, but to look beyond the immediate chaos and employee resistance that it frequently causes, to see its true benefits over the longer term and in the bigger picture.

"With his personable nature and highest standards, along with his great sense of humor, dedication, and love of the graphic arts industry, he's been a pleasure to have on the staff and a real asset to the magazine."

"It was always a lot of fun working with Earl on articles for GAM, especially artwork," recalls Rani Levy, creative director of the magazine. "He had his own ideas about how to present a story to readers, and there was always a lot of give-and-take in the office."

Earl Wilken has long been a familiar and respected speaker, panelist, and attendee at such industry events as the Seybold Seminars, Graph Expo shows, On Demand conferences, and international expositions, plus countless press conferences.

From 1965 until 1982, he was the technology editor of Editor & Publisher , a weekly magazine in the newspaper industry, and served for a number of years as an instructor at New York University's Center for Graphic Communications Management and Technology.

In one of his many favorite stories, Earl Wilken tells how, many years ago, while standing in a telephone booth in California speaking with his publisher at the time, he coined the term "datamation," later to be developed into a successful magazine covering the computer data processing industry.

He concludes, "Because of the ever-changing technology, and especially the fascinating people I've enjoyed being with, in all these years I just never got tired of covering the graphic arts industry. For me, there was always something new to learn about an important human activity that I think will be around forever. I'm proud to have been a part of its evolution."