Bisson, former Pensions & Investments publisher, dies at 70

Bill Bisson

William T. “Bill” Bisson Jr., former publisher of Crain’s publication Pensions & Investments, died Jan. 17 at the age of 70.

A story on the publication’s website states, “That defense of editorial integrity often was directed at his staff, as well.

“‘My favorite Bisson story is about that separation’ of advertising and editorial departments, former editor Nancy K. Webman said in an email. ‘A P&I reporter in the Chicago office went … to hail a cab to attend a financial analysts’ lunch. (He) noticed a P&Iad salesman was also trying to get a cab. They spoke and found out they were going to the same luncheon, so they shared a cab, but sat at different tables during the event.

“‘Bisson somehow found out about the cab ride and they, I and who knows who else got yelled at for violating the Chinese wall rule. Bill would do virtually anything to maintain the journalistic integrity of Pensions & Investments.’

“Ms. Webman added: ‘Never had I had a publisher who so vigorously and rigorously tried to ensure that there was a Chinese wall.'”

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Chris Roush

Chris Roush was the dean of the School of Communications at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. He was previously Walter E. Hussman Sr. Distinguished Professor in business journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is a former business journalist for Bloomberg News, Businessweek, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Tampa Tribune and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. He is the author of the leading business reporting textbook "Show me the Money: Writing Business and Economics Stories for Mass Communication" and "Thinking Things Over," a biography of former Wall Street Journal editor Vermont Royster.