Ken, you have really hit the issue of the loss of the Post Star in a way that only you could. It was such a wonderful and important part of our "community glue" and although I still read it on the 3 publication days, I miss our old PS every day. The local stories, columns, editorials, and letters allowed all of us to know what was going on, but more importantly participate in the discussion. Knowing you and those wonderful editors and reporters allowed people to keep connected and engaged. That loss has made us poorer as a community, sadly when we really need it the most.
I've been reading the Post Star as long as I can remember. My parents always had it, and it has been a staple in my home even today. It's always been a connection to my community and although it's not like it used to be, it still exists. 😊
Barely. I hope it still exists in 5-10 years but I wouldn't put any money on it.
It's become a clearinghouse for generic wire content with minimal connection to the local community. Locals can get most of their content free elsewhere. As a business model, it's doomed to fail unless they reprioritize the local.
End of an era at Lawrence St. Editorial Board meetings in person - some great, some exceedingly difficult. Stopping by in person for an interview, or to talk with Frawley about advertising. Special editions to commemorate the opening of a new building, or to cover Molly McMaster's Rolling to Recovery. Being amazed at Mr. Mahoney’s Pulitzer. 100% correct though, Ken. It was the people. I used to love dropping in and miss it still. Everything from Jim talking horses and the rodeo, to Maury ending an interview with “Sure enough!” Thanks for this great remembrance.
How right you are! How much poorer we are without the newspaper as an everyday thing. Some of your comments brought a tear to my eye remembering them . Thanks
You are so right about how things have drastically changed in the newspaper world. I have always loved reading the PS every day and now I find I hardly read it at all. The issues you folks focused on, the coverage of local news and important events was important information not to be missed and I always loved the editorials and evaluations of individuals running for office. The press needs to remain a free press but the significance of that seems to be missed with the younger generation. Thanks to all of you who worked so diligently to have given us such a quality product. We miss you and your great reporting.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Working in the advertising department, during the Jim Marshall days, was a wonderful experience. We were a cohesive group tucked in the back corner of "the old building". I remember being busy all the time, while laughing and joking right up to the deadline to get our ads in. Clip art and hard copy ads were waxed onto the pages. We were issued cell phones the size of a shoe boxes. Mark Mahoney rollerbladed to work, and we were all so young.
For years I started my day by reading the Post Star. A few years ago, as the price rose and the quality decreased we stopped the paper and I missed it. But not being a sports fan, I just couldn’t justify the cost. The newest version of the paper is even worse. News is reported 2 days after other sources, even the weather page is 2 days late. I miss the old Post Star😢
Winston Churchill said, “We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us.” Thanks for your reminiscences, and for reminding us of the importance of place and space.
As an old hack journalist who started as a summer cub reporter - and part-timer during the school year - while at Glens Falls High in the late 1950s (!), I always appreciate reading about the “inside baseball” of newspapers. Naturally, the more favorable picture, the better. And , In that regard, my hazy recollections of those long ago days was of a highly professional newsroom (the Post-Star and afternoon Times facility were then at the top of Glen Street not far from what is now the Civic Center). Burr Patton, Ed and Hermine Sherman, Florence McIlvaine, and Lindy Strout were first class journalists who struck me as always knowing what to do when out of the ordinary story challenges arose. One of the few throwbacks I recall to a “Front Page” type newsroom was a mild one - City Editor Sherman, always wearing one of the old green plastic eyeshades, sat in the middle of the newsroom on a very tall wooden chair, overseeing the action below. And then there was the incomparable Publisher Arthur P. (“AP” to those in the know) Irving who, when he personally hired me, told me my pay would be basic “ice cream money”. Later, in 1962, when sports editor Strout and I were covering the New York State golf championship in Glens Falls, Strout and I barely missed committing the cardinal sin of stepping on one of the players ball in the fairway. Nearby, I heard the quick witted publisher Irving say in a loud voice to about 100 spectators: “That’s my sportswriters, always on the ball.” -Dave Nathan, Bethesda, MD
The Good Ole Days says it all Ken, another memorable piece - Thank God we all have memories like this of certain phases in our lives, or at least I think & hope, we all do. Keep 'em coming & thanks Ken!!!
I served as a citizen representative on the Post Star Editorial Board in 2009 and 2019. I saw first hand how a group of people committed to the truth cared about their community. I was honored to be among them even for a short time. We have lost something precious and it will be missed. I thank you for giving me the opportunity, as brief as it was, to be a small part of such a noble endeavor.
Your recollections of your days of reporting, editing and teamwork at the Post Star building are vivid and poignant. Thanks for conserving your work and memories within your books, your talks and with these posts. We need and crave for discerning commentary and we are immensely grateful to have them within reach, every day in our emails.
Such a touching tribute to still living and deceased Post Star staff who have kept the ship afloat all these years. Art Irving would be so proud of you, Ken.
I forwarded today’s Front Line to Monty Calvert who was the long term photographer for the Post Star. And also to my St. Mary’s classmate who was a “cub reporter” for the Glens Falls Times during high school back in the ‘60’s. She really enjoyed your column and all the responses.
I think there's now greater appreciation for the work the Post-Star used to do now that the paper has been hollowed out into increasing irrelevance. I feel bad for the journalists there because I'm sure they are trying their best but the system is not setting them up for success. It feels more like a managed death.
My subscription to the Times-Union feels increasingly necessary to fill the gaps left by the decline of the Post-Star (which still hasn't done, to my knowledge, a single story about any local races in Warren or Washington counties other than the Warren County clerk's race). Lee apparently hasn't figured out that less and less local content means less and less reason for locals to pay money for the product. People might complain about comic strips but that's not why they pay money to subscribe.
The old Post-Star was imperfect but it always felt to me connected to the community, for better or worse. It was the only consistent source of local journalism in my lifetime. And that's why its demise hurts so much. It's not like there's anything else to fill in the hole.
I think the far greater affect is that people are becoming less and less connected to the community. They don’t know what is happening - events, etc - and they are not able to follow what the local boards did. Warren County supervisors gave themselves a 30 percent raise on Friday. That would have been editorial fodder in years past but so many people said “Don’t tell me what to think” that many newspapers don’t write editorials anymore. They can’t afford to lose the business.
Indeed. And that's why you are seeing the 'nationalization' of local politics in so many places. The vacuum left by the disappearance or decline of local journalism is being filled by people just intoning national talking points from cable 'news' or whatever else is their preferred echo chamber.
Ken, you have really hit the issue of the loss of the Post Star in a way that only you could. It was such a wonderful and important part of our "community glue" and although I still read it on the 3 publication days, I miss our old PS every day. The local stories, columns, editorials, and letters allowed all of us to know what was going on, but more importantly participate in the discussion. Knowing you and those wonderful editors and reporters allowed people to keep connected and engaged. That loss has made us poorer as a community, sadly when we really need it the most.
As I’ve spoken to groups around the region, I realize more and more how important the mission was for the newspaper.
I've been reading the Post Star as long as I can remember. My parents always had it, and it has been a staple in my home even today. It's always been a connection to my community and although it's not like it used to be, it still exists. 😊
"it still exists"
Barely. I hope it still exists in 5-10 years but I wouldn't put any money on it.
It's become a clearinghouse for generic wire content with minimal connection to the local community. Locals can get most of their content free elsewhere. As a business model, it's doomed to fail unless they reprioritize the local.
I think the point is, there is still some local. It is not nearly as robust or extensive, but it is there.
End of an era at Lawrence St. Editorial Board meetings in person - some great, some exceedingly difficult. Stopping by in person for an interview, or to talk with Frawley about advertising. Special editions to commemorate the opening of a new building, or to cover Molly McMaster's Rolling to Recovery. Being amazed at Mr. Mahoney’s Pulitzer. 100% correct though, Ken. It was the people. I used to love dropping in and miss it still. Everything from Jim talking horses and the rodeo, to Maury ending an interview with “Sure enough!” Thanks for this great remembrance.
How right you are! How much poorer we are without the newspaper as an everyday thing. Some of your comments brought a tear to my eye remembering them . Thanks
Mine too.
You are so right about how things have drastically changed in the newspaper world. I have always loved reading the PS every day and now I find I hardly read it at all. The issues you folks focused on, the coverage of local news and important events was important information not to be missed and I always loved the editorials and evaluations of individuals running for office. The press needs to remain a free press but the significance of that seems to be missed with the younger generation. Thanks to all of you who worked so diligently to have given us such a quality product. We miss you and your great reporting.
Thanks for your kind words.
I still read it.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Working in the advertising department, during the Jim Marshall days, was a wonderful experience. We were a cohesive group tucked in the back corner of "the old building". I remember being busy all the time, while laughing and joking right up to the deadline to get our ads in. Clip art and hard copy ads were waxed onto the pages. We were issued cell phones the size of a shoe boxes. Mark Mahoney rollerbladed to work, and we were all so young.
For years I started my day by reading the Post Star. A few years ago, as the price rose and the quality decreased we stopped the paper and I missed it. But not being a sports fan, I just couldn’t justify the cost. The newest version of the paper is even worse. News is reported 2 days after other sources, even the weather page is 2 days late. I miss the old Post Star😢
Delivery by mail later in the day is the worst part.
Winston Churchill said, “We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us.” Thanks for your reminiscences, and for reminding us of the importance of place and space.
As an old hack journalist who started as a summer cub reporter - and part-timer during the school year - while at Glens Falls High in the late 1950s (!), I always appreciate reading about the “inside baseball” of newspapers. Naturally, the more favorable picture, the better. And , In that regard, my hazy recollections of those long ago days was of a highly professional newsroom (the Post-Star and afternoon Times facility were then at the top of Glen Street not far from what is now the Civic Center). Burr Patton, Ed and Hermine Sherman, Florence McIlvaine, and Lindy Strout were first class journalists who struck me as always knowing what to do when out of the ordinary story challenges arose. One of the few throwbacks I recall to a “Front Page” type newsroom was a mild one - City Editor Sherman, always wearing one of the old green plastic eyeshades, sat in the middle of the newsroom on a very tall wooden chair, overseeing the action below. And then there was the incomparable Publisher Arthur P. (“AP” to those in the know) Irving who, when he personally hired me, told me my pay would be basic “ice cream money”. Later, in 1962, when sports editor Strout and I were covering the New York State golf championship in Glens Falls, Strout and I barely missed committing the cardinal sin of stepping on one of the players ball in the fairway. Nearby, I heard the quick witted publisher Irving say in a loud voice to about 100 spectators: “That’s my sportswriters, always on the ball.” -Dave Nathan, Bethesda, MD
Great stories David. Thanks for sharing.
The Good Ole Days says it all Ken, another memorable piece - Thank God we all have memories like this of certain phases in our lives, or at least I think & hope, we all do. Keep 'em coming & thanks Ken!!!
Sadly it’s true. Can anything be done about it?
New business models are being tried. Support the news sources you value. T-U still does a good job.
I served as a citizen representative on the Post Star Editorial Board in 2009 and 2019. I saw first hand how a group of people committed to the truth cared about their community. I was honored to be among them even for a short time. We have lost something precious and it will be missed. I thank you for giving me the opportunity, as brief as it was, to be a small part of such a noble endeavor.
You were a valuable contributor.
Your recollections of your days of reporting, editing and teamwork at the Post Star building are vivid and poignant. Thanks for conserving your work and memories within your books, your talks and with these posts. We need and crave for discerning commentary and we are immensely grateful to have them within reach, every day in our emails.
So many newspapers have backed away from commentary and that was a mistake.
Such a touching tribute to still living and deceased Post Star staff who have kept the ship afloat all these years. Art Irving would be so proud of you, Ken.
I forwarded today’s Front Line to Monty Calvert who was the long term photographer for the Post Star. And also to my St. Mary’s classmate who was a “cub reporter” for the Glens Falls Times during high school back in the ‘60’s. She really enjoyed your column and all the responses.
Say hi to Monty. He was the best.
I think there's now greater appreciation for the work the Post-Star used to do now that the paper has been hollowed out into increasing irrelevance. I feel bad for the journalists there because I'm sure they are trying their best but the system is not setting them up for success. It feels more like a managed death.
My subscription to the Times-Union feels increasingly necessary to fill the gaps left by the decline of the Post-Star (which still hasn't done, to my knowledge, a single story about any local races in Warren or Washington counties other than the Warren County clerk's race). Lee apparently hasn't figured out that less and less local content means less and less reason for locals to pay money for the product. People might complain about comic strips but that's not why they pay money to subscribe.
The old Post-Star was imperfect but it always felt to me connected to the community, for better or worse. It was the only consistent source of local journalism in my lifetime. And that's why its demise hurts so much. It's not like there's anything else to fill in the hole.
I think the far greater affect is that people are becoming less and less connected to the community. They don’t know what is happening - events, etc - and they are not able to follow what the local boards did. Warren County supervisors gave themselves a 30 percent raise on Friday. That would have been editorial fodder in years past but so many people said “Don’t tell me what to think” that many newspapers don’t write editorials anymore. They can’t afford to lose the business.
Indeed. And that's why you are seeing the 'nationalization' of local politics in so many places. The vacuum left by the disappearance or decline of local journalism is being filled by people just intoning national talking points from cable 'news' or whatever else is their preferred echo chamber.
Looking forward to hearing from Bob Henke again. Now if you could get Forrest to write…