Besides being admired for “his genial personality as much as his highly regarded writing and editing skills,” reported the Tribune, Kneeland also served the difficult position of public editor.

In 1990 he became the paper’s first public editor, in charge of "seeing to it that legitimate complaints about the newspaper's behavior are heard and redressed, that errors of fact and taste are aggressively corrected," then-Tribune Editor Jack Fuller said in a story announcing the creation of Kneeland's job.

Not only did Kneeland serve the dialogue with readers, he was very important for internal cohesion too.

Mr. Kneeland was "never ruffled as deadlines approached," and "always found time to mentor young reporters struggling with their stories," said Tribune reporter John Crewdson.

"Doug's great strength was his real concern for journalistic integrity. He really brought that value to a paper where it was, in some quarters, lacking," said former Tribune Managing Editor F. Richard Ciccone.

Kneeland, as do other ombudsmen, served to better the paper in all of its forms, from its relationship to readers to internal tasks, and most importantly, reminding all staffers of the sacred journalistic mission.

Source: Chicago Tribune