(Editor’s note: The Readers’ Advocate’s role is to address the concerns of readers on a variety of matters, including the fairness of stories, what The Item covers, stories that may have been missed, and the emphasis put on certain stories but perhaps not on others. It is written by Jo Sullivan, a retired educator who is not a member of The Item staff and is not being paid. Her commentaries will appear on no set schedule.)
I am in awe of journalists. My admiration is, of course, because of the role of journalism in our democracy, and as I wrote in my Readers’ Advocate introduction, because I believe local news is so important. The essence of the work, though, is writing. That is what amazes me on a daily basis — the writing and on a deadline.
When I was in high school and college, teachers rarely commented on my writing. It was in graduate school that I confronted the fact that I had not been taught writing and that my grades had been based on the content of my papers and exams.
When I was writing my thesis, one of my advisors criticized every draft of every chapter: “There are no topic sentences… Don’t bring me first drafts!” I was too embarrassed to tell him it was a third draft. I cried all the way home.
Then, a secretary in the department gave me a copy of Strunk and White’s “The Elements of Style.” It is a concise, classic guide to clear writing. I had never heard of it. Because of my advisor’s harsh criticism and that little book, my writing improved. I became a fanatic, insisting that my children focus on clear writing as they moved through their schooling. I still find writing difficult and deadlines are a challenge.
As a news junkie for many years, and now in the role of Readers’ Advocate, I read the Lynn Item more closely than ever. Reporters cover stories on many different topics, assigned by an editor every day.
Stories range from town meetings, a fire in Revere, COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, schools reopening, mask wearing, city council meetings, and a Black Lives Matter mural.
Reporters, both veteran and newly hired, may be working on stories that require research and background (the recent special focus on area housing needs, “Inside Housing,” April 9, 2021), yet they are also tasked with writing breaking local and regional news.
Remembering the weight of an impending deadline for a school assignment, I also remember the relief when it was handed in. The Item journalists do this every day, and likely with a completely different assignment the next day. Amazing.
I am in awe and admiration for the talent of veterans such as Senior Writer Steve Krause. In addition to reporting duties, such as the new meters along Revere Beach or the cancellation of regional Fourth of July fireworks, it seems as if Steve can whip up a column on the most timely topics at the snap of his fingers, with topics including resolution of the dispute between the town of Nahant and Northeastern University; a column on the excessive wind this spring; “The Kids Are Alright,” a column on generational differences; The Kentucky Derby; and eloquent tributes memorializing prominent locals (Bob Keaney, John Mihos) who died.
(Editor’s note: Steve Krause is retiring this summer.)
For those of us who open our newspaper or log in to the digital Item every day, we may sometimes take for granted the local breaking news, features, team victories and obituaries that keep us informed.
Someone wrote those stories on deadline, and as we read them over our morning coffee, those reporters are already working on tomorrow’s paper and may be researching a longer piece for a future edition.
Thank you from a grateful reader.
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