Years of conversations with a fourth-generation Iowa family newspaper owner in ‘Beacons in the Darkness,’ a national book by Chicago Sun-Times veteran reporter released today
yes. I can do it on T, FB and even Instagram.. what is the best link to use when asking people to subscribe to Doug, you or others? Is there a FB page for the Collaborative that I can 'play' off of.. ralph
Just posted my support to T and FB. While doing so, I discovered I had not subscribed to the Iowa Mercury. It's not like I subscribe to 100's of substacks, but I confess I lost track. Who has the app to track substack subscriptions? I still remember my days at Drake Law School, as co-editor of our paper--The Gavel-- running off copies, by the mimeograph machine, at one time. Later, it was published
Doug- Your quotes were so impactful I called my long-term friend in California who had owned and published our Stuart Herald from 1976 to 2001. I advised Alan he must read this and told him he was probably fortunate to be at a time of life he could sell the Stuart Herald then. Alan and Vicki were professional journalists and strong community leaders. They could tell someone they were wrong! Thanks for your writing and candor.
I consider Doug to be a friend, even though I only visited him once, for less than 24 hours, as a peddler. He happened to buy what I was selling, and we worked together to make it successful for him. I hope it was, but I also hope that Carroll supports the fine work he and his staff do. I was fortunate to work with a couple other publishers mentioned in this review, and they all have a belief I what they do for their communities and with their lives. My community needs Doug.
Great thoughts on a world that's vanishing. Thank you. I think what you describe about the digital world can also be applied to small towns in general. I grew up in one in the 1950s and '60s, and though the town still exists, it doesn't exist today in anything like the form and substance I knew and loved. And that's due in part to the loss of its daily newspaper.
I can relate to this as an indie book publisher for the last 35 years. People have asked me, "Why don't you do ebooks? Do people still read?" People overlook the drive and determination it takes to do a good job. As Graham Parker sang, "Passion is no ordinary word." The local is the whole point. How can we learn to best live where we live. Part of it is knowing the "news". Without it, we only know what we think we know. The ripples start small and build.
Thanks for reposting this. I had missed it. I so miss the days of a community newspaper that everyone read. It really connected us in ways that our “vanity silos” of social media just cannot do. I love all of your candid quotes. That’s another thing FB et al. rarely offer—in the midst of all the bragging and virtue signaling, we don’t get enough messy honesty. This was great.
Thank you Doug. Thank you for the strength in working in contributing to Beacons in the Darkness. IMHO, you are one of those beacons of light
https://theiowamercury.substack.com
Ralph, can you spread the word about Doug's column and encourage friends to become paid subscribers?
yes. I can do it on T, FB and even Instagram.. what is the best link to use when asking people to subscribe to Doug, you or others? Is there a FB page for the Collaborative that I can 'play' off of.. ralph
https://theiowamercury.substack.com
There is but let's give Doug's a specific boost now.
Great piece, Doug.
Also had to smile, seeing “my” Citizen Kane poster hanging above another publisher’s desk now that I’m out to pasture.
Keep fighting the good fight!
Just posted my support to T and FB. While doing so, I discovered I had not subscribed to the Iowa Mercury. It's not like I subscribe to 100's of substacks, but I confess I lost track. Who has the app to track substack subscriptions? I still remember my days at Drake Law School, as co-editor of our paper--The Gavel-- running off copies, by the mimeograph machine, at one time. Later, it was published
Fucking amazing, Doug. Thank you.
Doug- Your quotes were so impactful I called my long-term friend in California who had owned and published our Stuart Herald from 1976 to 2001. I advised Alan he must read this and told him he was probably fortunate to be at a time of life he could sell the Stuart Herald then. Alan and Vicki were professional journalists and strong community leaders. They could tell someone they were wrong! Thanks for your writing and candor.
I consider Doug to be a friend, even though I only visited him once, for less than 24 hours, as a peddler. He happened to buy what I was selling, and we worked together to make it successful for him. I hope it was, but I also hope that Carroll supports the fine work he and his staff do. I was fortunate to work with a couple other publishers mentioned in this review, and they all have a belief I what they do for their communities and with their lives. My community needs Doug.
It is imperative people understand this issue. It impacts so many.
Great thoughts on a world that's vanishing. Thank you. I think what you describe about the digital world can also be applied to small towns in general. I grew up in one in the 1950s and '60s, and though the town still exists, it doesn't exist today in anything like the form and substance I knew and loved. And that's due in part to the loss of its daily newspaper.
I can relate to this as an indie book publisher for the last 35 years. People have asked me, "Why don't you do ebooks? Do people still read?" People overlook the drive and determination it takes to do a good job. As Graham Parker sang, "Passion is no ordinary word." The local is the whole point. How can we learn to best live where we live. Part of it is knowing the "news". Without it, we only know what we think we know. The ripples start small and build.
Thanks for reposting this. I had missed it. I so miss the days of a community newspaper that everyone read. It really connected us in ways that our “vanity silos” of social media just cannot do. I love all of your candid quotes. That’s another thing FB et al. rarely offer—in the midst of all the bragging and virtue signaling, we don’t get enough messy honesty. This was great.