EDITOR'S NOTE: In February 2020 I began a new venture writing a blog for "News and Tech" magazine, an magazine devoted to the newspaper industry. The blog appears on the site's homepage. This column originally appeared Sept. 24, 2020.
One of my two first journalism bosses ever recently was recognized in the September edition of Editor & Publisher’s “15 over 50” segment that honored “leaders driving the news industry forward.”
Sure, I had supervisors at my college newspaper prior to going to work for Rollie and Julie Bergman at The Warroad (Minn.) Pioneer, but these people were the first ones ever to offer me a real paycheck for doing the work of journalism, albeit the work of a very young and green and inexperienced journalist!
And seeing Rollie’s well-deserved recognition in E&P seemed to fire up the nostalgia machine located somewhere in the deep recesses of my brain: The story made me realize that 25 years ago this past summer, I trekked north to take on my first actual paying newspaper gig at The Pioneer.
I knew the job was only an internship, a temporary, three month gig, and I figured they might have hired me out of desperation, but regardless, I was thrilled. … So, I took what I learned from my university classes and the many hundreds of hours that I had spent at the student newspaper at Bemidji (Minn.) State University, packed my $200 car and headed (even farther) north, naively brimming with a young man’s confidence.
I was unstoppable. … I was scheduled to spend the next three months being paid to write stories and help cover the news of the small community of Warroad, located at the very top of the state of Minnesota. I was going to work under an editor and receive tutelage in what it was like to be a newspaper professional before I returned to BSU for my senior year. It was going to be a great summer, and my first step on my way to an award-winning journalism career!
On a slightly overcast and mildly chilly Monday morning -- Memorial Day, in fact -- I arrived at the Pioneer office to meet Rollie and Julie, who co-owned the paper. After some pleasantries at the office, Julie let me know that their editor had the holiday off, and so she and Rollie dropped in to help me get my footing on my first day. She even graciously volunteered to walk me over to the community Memorial Day celebration at the high school to introduce me around.
I was beyond grateful for the opportunity, both thrilled and terrified at the same time.
Before we left the office, however, Julie looked at me and asked, “How are you with a camera?” … Now, remember, these were the days of film cameras! No digital SLRs that can make even the most novice photographer look good.
Going with the mantra, “Fake it ‘til you make it,” I said. “OK … I guess.”
“Good,” Julie said. “You’re shooting today’s ceremony and parade. You’ll do fine. Ready to go?”
Gulp …
“Yeah,” I said, sure that my voice squeaked. … And we headed to the ceremony.
The high school was a short walk from the office, just over a little bridge on the main state highway that cut through town. As we neared about at the middle of the bridge, Julie stopped me, looked at me with a deadpan serious face and said, “Look, there’s something you should know. … We don’t have an editor anymore. He left last week. … Soooo, you’re it for the summer. You’ll do fine.”
She turned forward, and we continued walking.
But with my mind reeling, and inspired by Julie’s honesty, it was my turn to stop her. … We hadn’t gotten more than a few more feet, when I said to her with my own deadpan serious face, “Look, I should tell you something too. … I can’t operate a camera to save my life.”
A look of disbelief crossed Julie’s face. She might have even gone a shade pale. … But only momentarily. And then she broke into a broad and genuine smile, and said, “Well, this will be a fun summer, won’t it!” … And then we arrived at the high school gymnasium.
Thus a newspaper career was launched, and lifetime friendships were made.
A quarter century later, I still am in touch with Rollie and Julie on a regular basis, and we often criss cross each other’s paths at industry events. I was proud to see my former (and first!) employer receive the long overdue appreciation for his 60 years in community journalism. And I will be forever grateful for the fact that he and Julie took in a greenhorn to whom they owed nothing and gave him a career.
Devlyn Brooks is president of Modulist, a media services company specializing in the processing of user-generated paid content submissions for newspapers. Devlyn spent 20 years writing and editing in newsrooms big and small, dailies and weeklies.
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