Allan M. Siegal

For persons of a similar name, seeAlan Segal.

Allan M. Siegal
Born	Allan Marshall Siegal (1940-05-01)May 1, 1940 New York City, U.S.
Died	September 21, 2022(2022-09-21)(aged 82) New York City, U.S.
Alma mater	New York University
Occupations	Editor journalist
Years active	1960–2006
Employers	The New York Times(1960–1965; 1967–2006) ABC News(1966)
Spouse	Gretchen Leefmans ​ (m.1977)​
Children	2

Allan Marshall Siegal(May 1, 1940 – September 21, 2022) was an American newspaper editor and journalist who worked atThe New York Timesfor 45 years. In 1987, he was named an assistant managing editor, and in 2003, he became theTimes'first standards editor, charged with maintaining high standards of accuracy, fairness and ethical conduct.

Early life

Siegal was born inthe Bronxon May 1, 1940.His father, Irving, immigrated fromPolandduring his teenage years and managed aseltzerdelivery company before becoming a landlord; his mother, Sylvia (Wrubel), was a housewife. Siegal attendedChristopher Columbus High Schoolin his home borough'sPelham Parkwayneighborhood, where he served as editor of theschool newspaper.He was then awarded a scholarship to study journalism atNew York University.

Career

While he was still in university, Siegal joinedThe New York Timesin 1960 as a copy boy. He eventually worked his way up to becoming a copy editor.During the 1960s, he briefly worked atABC News(under the aegis ofPeter Jennings) in 1966 but soon returned to theTimes.He also had a stint as a reporter, but realized he preferred editing, and successfully lobbied to return to an editing position. He first worked on the foreign desk and later as the head of the news desk. Siegal was part of the team that turned thePentagon Papersinto news.In 1986, he became an assistant managing editor.Siegal was the lead editor of the newspaper's investigation ofJayson Blair.

Siegal served as the in-house authority on language, style, taste, professional ethics and practical newspapering. He co-authored theNew York Times'stylebook and its ethics manual along with designing the first computer system in the newsroom. His last post at theTimeswas as assistant managing editor and standards editor, a position that he was the inaugural holder of from its creation in 2003.His responsibilities in that capacity included maintaining the newspaper's ethics, accuracy, fairness, and accountability.He retired in 2006.

Personal life

Siegal married Gretchen Leefmans in 1977. She worked as a freelance manuscript editor at the time, and they remained together until his death. Together, they had two children.

Siegal died on September 21, 2022, at his home inManhattan.He was 82 and had suffered from heart issues.

Bibliography

• WithWilliam G. Connolly.The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage,Revised and Expanded Edition.New York: Three Rivers Press, 2002.ISBN0-8129-6389-XISBN978-0-8129-6389-2

See also

• List of American copy editors