Keep on writing Maura! We, the readers, will always need you, the writers for entertainment, solace, education, ideas, etc. Keep on, keeping on! Please.
I love this insight into your writing life Maura, things sure have changed. Never experienced it myself, but I’m sure there’s nothing like the buzz of a newsroom to get the adrenaline going! Do what your love, what a lovely legacy that Seamus left that we should all take a moment to sit with in our hearts.
Thanks for this, Maura. I've been tracking the most recent layoffs at the Texas Tribune, a beacon of hope for many who are depressed about the decline of newsrooms. I'm retooling a Substack post in response to that, so this is well timed for my thoughts!
Thanks for this ode, Maura! Though I spent only the first six years of my career at daily newspapers, they are still in my veins, with strong memories of true characters and a real sense of community identity that has sadly faded. Those papers are shadows of their former selves. We've largely lost the sense of place that good local papers gave us. The loss of the op-ed page means people don't routinely read points of view they are likely to disagree with, nor give a potential adversary 800 words to make a good argument. This is devastating to democracy.
Journalism, as a crumbling pillar of democracy, explains a lot about America’s current woes. I’m grateful to have had the old-fashioned support of time and resources to do enterprise reporting. I got to do what I loved. On a good day I could right wrongs, put the bad guys away, and hold the power brokers accountable. Today we’ve landed in a culture of “alternative facts.” I hope the pendulum swings back to support journalism which in turn supports democracy.
People like you and me weren't even considered odd in a newsroom. I was lucky to work for a tabloid like the one in the movie, where lines like "then keep your dick out of my ashtray" were routine discourse.
I hate that newspapers are being eliminated. People need to read more and scroll less. Thank you for reminding us of the humanity behind that newsprint.
Newsrooms: May they never die
Keep on writing Maura! We, the readers, will always need you, the writers for entertainment, solace, education, ideas, etc. Keep on, keeping on! Please.
Well said, Maura!
I love this insight into your writing life Maura, things sure have changed. Never experienced it myself, but I’m sure there’s nothing like the buzz of a newsroom to get the adrenaline going! Do what your love, what a lovely legacy that Seamus left that we should all take a moment to sit with in our hearts.
Thanks for this, Maura. I've been tracking the most recent layoffs at the Texas Tribune, a beacon of hope for many who are depressed about the decline of newsrooms. I'm retooling a Substack post in response to that, so this is well timed for my thoughts!
Thanks for this ode, Maura! Though I spent only the first six years of my career at daily newspapers, they are still in my veins, with strong memories of true characters and a real sense of community identity that has sadly faded. Those papers are shadows of their former selves. We've largely lost the sense of place that good local papers gave us. The loss of the op-ed page means people don't routinely read points of view they are likely to disagree with, nor give a potential adversary 800 words to make a good argument. This is devastating to democracy.
Journalism, as a crumbling pillar of democracy, explains a lot about America’s current woes. I’m grateful to have had the old-fashioned support of time and resources to do enterprise reporting. I got to do what I loved. On a good day I could right wrongs, put the bad guys away, and hold the power brokers accountable. Today we’ve landed in a culture of “alternative facts.” I hope the pendulum swings back to support journalism which in turn supports democracy.
People like you and me weren't even considered odd in a newsroom. I was lucky to work for a tabloid like the one in the movie, where lines like "then keep your dick out of my ashtray" were routine discourse.
I hate that newspapers are being eliminated. People need to read more and scroll less. Thank you for reminding us of the humanity behind that newsprint.
Nailed it, Casey. Wonderful piece. That’s from one oddball to another.
I have never found anything I want to do more. The rush of a great story still is there. If only I could pay the bills.
Interesting...the paper in the movie clip is "The Sun". Coincidence?