I struggled to pay bills as a sportswriter and sports editor, but I loved the job I was doing and loved getting up in the morning to go to work. I never minded doing a 12-hours shift even though I was rarely compensated accordingly. My college experience helped me to have a happy and fulfilled life. It’s not always about the money, but a little money would be nice.
College indoctrination - hmmm!!! I grew up on a dairy farm in Washington County at a time when many farm kids never got off the farm. My parents, however, were committed to getting us out of town, especially in the summer. For one week in August, we went to a major city in the Northeast because that's were the Major League baseball teams were. I spent a lot of hours in those stadiums, not always with appreciation. Sightseeing and staying in a hotel was part of the mix. They made sure we got swimming lessons at our local Battenkill River Beach. I learned how swim, later taught swimming and learned a lot about river currents. My mother, especially, made sure we all got at least a 2-year degree or specific training in a trade. In those days, farmers with 100 cow dairy farms could afford to send their kids to college. My dad graduated from Pratt Institute in in 1938. My mom attended Cornell for only one year. She was forced to drop out for lack of funds. She wanted to make sure her children didn't experience the same fate. It always bothered her that she couldn't finish. The five of us went on to post high school education, including 2 year degrees, 4 year degrees and 2 Masters degrees. We count among us a successful dairy farmer, an interior designer, a school teacher, a nurse and a retired 2 Star General from the Air National Guard. When you grow up in a small town in Washington County, getting away and experiencing something of the world beyond this beautiful place in so very important. College indoctrination - I don't think so!
Interesting to read about your early efforts in journalism. But because in those early I don’t think you covered women in sports, I always skipped the Sports Section. I’m sure my husband read it. He was an avid Yankees fan.
Some of those courses the Colleges dropped are essential I would think. I.e. Chemistry to Nursing students etc..
When I was in college in 1979, we did cover women’s sports, but certainly not to the extent that we covered the men. This was just six years after Title IX was enacted, so it took time to evolve. I was always very proud of our coverage of girls sports at The Post-Star.
Who decides what is a newsworthy topic and to what extent is it appropriate to pry deeply into matters of private concern ? Perhaps a shooting is indeed grist for the publicity mill but not all the sordid details are appropriate for publication even when based upon a journalist’s claim that the public has a right to know.
Consider the possibility that the victims of the shooting were not public persons and their right to privacy is a valid consideration for the Sheriff to determine just how much information is necessary to discharge his legal duties and especially so where no crime will be prosecuted.
U.S Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman perhaps said it best....
“I hate newspapermen. They come into camp and pick up their camp rumors and print them as facts. I regard them as spies, which, in truth, they are.”
Perhaps the General might have tempered his criticism of journalists a bit......but he did make a valid point. There should be limits upon what might be claimed as within the public’s right to know. In this instance it was Sheriff LaFarr’s call.
Well, voters certainly don’t have to return him to office.
I struggled to pay bills as a sportswriter and sports editor, but I loved the job I was doing and loved getting up in the morning to go to work. I never minded doing a 12-hours shift even though I was rarely compensated accordingly. My college experience helped me to have a happy and fulfilled life. It’s not always about the money, but a little money would be nice.
Unfortunately that is true.
College indoctrination - hmmm!!! I grew up on a dairy farm in Washington County at a time when many farm kids never got off the farm. My parents, however, were committed to getting us out of town, especially in the summer. For one week in August, we went to a major city in the Northeast because that's were the Major League baseball teams were. I spent a lot of hours in those stadiums, not always with appreciation. Sightseeing and staying in a hotel was part of the mix. They made sure we got swimming lessons at our local Battenkill River Beach. I learned how swim, later taught swimming and learned a lot about river currents. My mother, especially, made sure we all got at least a 2-year degree or specific training in a trade. In those days, farmers with 100 cow dairy farms could afford to send their kids to college. My dad graduated from Pratt Institute in in 1938. My mom attended Cornell for only one year. She was forced to drop out for lack of funds. She wanted to make sure her children didn't experience the same fate. It always bothered her that she couldn't finish. The five of us went on to post high school education, including 2 year degrees, 4 year degrees and 2 Masters degrees. We count among us a successful dairy farmer, an interior designer, a school teacher, a nurse and a retired 2 Star General from the Air National Guard. When you grow up in a small town in Washington County, getting away and experiencing something of the world beyond this beautiful place in so very important. College indoctrination - I don't think so!
Well said.
I LOVE that you lived on a dairy FARM in my Washington County.
Interesting to read about your early efforts in journalism. But because in those early I don’t think you covered women in sports, I always skipped the Sports Section. I’m sure my husband read it. He was an avid Yankees fan.
Some of those courses the Colleges dropped are essential I would think. I.e. Chemistry to Nursing students etc..
When I was in college in 1979, we did cover women’s sports, but certainly not to the extent that we covered the men. This was just six years after Title IX was enacted, so it took time to evolve. I was always very proud of our coverage of girls sports at The Post-Star.
Glad and thankful you followed your dream. You have been an inspiration to many, l’m sure.
Regarding the Sheriff
Who decides what is a newsworthy topic and to what extent is it appropriate to pry deeply into matters of private concern ? Perhaps a shooting is indeed grist for the publicity mill but not all the sordid details are appropriate for publication even when based upon a journalist’s claim that the public has a right to know.
Consider the possibility that the victims of the shooting were not public persons and their right to privacy is a valid consideration for the Sheriff to determine just how much information is necessary to discharge his legal duties and especially so where no crime will be prosecuted.
U.S Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman perhaps said it best....
“I hate newspapermen. They come into camp and pick up their camp rumors and print them as facts. I regard them as spies, which, in truth, they are.”
Perhaps the General might have tempered his criticism of journalists a bit......but he did make a valid point. There should be limits upon what might be claimed as within the public’s right to know. In this instance it was Sheriff LaFarr’s call.