As editor-in-chief, I often receive too much attention when, in reality, it should be directed to our more than 115 staff members.
It makes sense: I make the most money, get my name in the masthead and get to write this lovely column for all six of you loyal readers. (Thanks again for hanging these up at work, Mom.)
But it’s not all praise and glory from the peanut gallery. I take a ton of — mostly fair and deserved — criticism, and then some that’s a little nastier (just check some of the tweets sent to me by fellow Scripps students last night, for instance).
Fortunately, The Post isn’t about me. It’s about serving the students of Ohio University and the residents of Athens County while simultaneously training the next generation of journalists.
But that’s not even my primary motivation. What I really love is working with our freshmen and sophomores as they craft their first stories, land their first big interviews and eagerly publish their first front-page articles.
I’ll never forget when we first let an eager 17-year-old Athens High School student join our staff. This kid was energetic, motivated and, conveniently, free all afternoon because he’s enrolled in post-secondary classes. So we force-fed him story after story, busting his behind and teaching him the intricacies of the craft. (“No Will, you can’t use your mom as a source.”)
But even with a few missteps, including a citation in his personnel file for “misuse of a company Twitter account,” this kid gave us his all last quarter — eventually producing a three-part poverty series that put faces to the depressing economic conditions surrounding our lush college town.
During break, the subjects of one of those stories reached back out to the reporter. He had profiled two impoverished food-bank operators who spend their meager incomes to help feed others.
Thanks to his story, their cupboards are now overflowing.
Reporters and stories such as that remind me each day why I love the newspaper industry. And that 17-year-old? He’s back on the front page again today, delivering the news of a switch in the Time Warner Cable lineup in Athens.
He told me yesterday it’s the most complicated story he’s ever written, but there’s no doubt there are much more complex exposés and human-interest features in his future.
I usually act annoyed when he pesters me with endless questions, but the truth is, it’s that eternally inquisitive and optimistic attitude that reminds a cynical and jaded Post veteran why I love doing this job.
Seriously, Will — thanks.
Wesley Lowery is a senior studying journalism and editor-in-chief at The Post. Email him at wl372808@ohiou.edu.
