About this series: I revisited my journals from my early years as a freelance writer and found they told a story of their own. In this series I get the rare opportunity to give myself and other writers career advice with nearly 50 years of hindsight. Enjoy!
Local journalism is — or was — a hugely territorial business. Weekly and daily newspapers compete for advertising, eyeballs, and talent.
I was — or should have been — keenly aware of this. I was repeatedly recruited by the fledgling Hanover Gazette during my freelance year and my time with the Journal Opinion. I opted to stay with the J-O even as the Gazette was breaking into our New Hampshire towns east of the Connecticut River.
So looking back, does this multi-day retrospective seem a little odd to you?
Generally nice, spring-like weather. Even rode my bike on Friday — I suspect it prompted my latest migraine.
Monday — Same as usual, fortunately a light night. George stuck around and we shared page 1. He asked me to write a rec. for him, which I did Wednesday.
Tuesday was a washout, except that I attended an Elly Ameling concert which I will not even attempt to review. Technically she was beautiful — but the program was boring. …
Wednesday was kind of interesting. After writing George’s letter, I headed to Hanover. I chatted with the MALS administrative assistant, who was very helpful and enthusiastic. So am I! Must think this through in order to apply before May 1. … Finally, I went to a sparsely attended forum on co-ed houses, sponsored by Phi Psi. Fancy meeting fellow ’77 Alan MacDonald* there (former Sky High President, in my frosh seminar, and now living in Fairlee and writing for the Gazette). (Small world!) We talked of coalitions, possibly between corporations. [Seems he knew my whereabouts through reading the J-O.] …
Thursday — very light day at work but I nevertheless had a migraine attack and had to head home, where I wasted a good three hours trying to shake it. …
Journal, Volume III
24-27 March 1980
Howard, Howard, Howard. Where do I begin?
I’ve already told you about my fraternity brother George, who went on to a brief career in journalism before law school. By writing that letter of recommendation, I was knowingly helping a talented friend leave the news staff I was managing. Not very smart.
It was probably a good decision not to review the famous Dutch soprano’s solo concert of lieder and Bach. I knew — and still know — little about classical music, but I knew enough to realize she was very good and I was very bored.
Then the Budding Writer went to learn more about the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies writing program, which would mean another career change. After that, I shot the breeze with a classmate who had almost the same resume as I and was hired for the position I had turned down with the competition.
I didn’t even know he was living and working right in our coverage area. That’s a failure of competitive intelligence. And we were talking about cooperation and coalitions?
No wonder I had a migraine the next day.
* Like George, Alan MacDonald went on to law school and is now a partner in a firm in Louisville, Kentucky.