|
|
|
|
|
In May, 1994, the Racine
Journal Times placed a brief blurb on the opinion page that read, "Wanted:
One Curmudgeon." Since I'm a natural complainer, I sent in some pieces
to the paper, but when I didn't hear from them, I forgot about it and chalked
it up to another episode of editors not knowing what they wanted.
A few months later, in September, Sean Devlin, the opinion page editor, called me at Burlington High School, where I teach. I had to resist the urge to say, Sean who?" He said, "Do you remember that blurb about wanting a curmudgeon?" I did, and that started almost three years of weekly columns for the paper.
Being a Curmudgeon meant that once a week I got to complain about practically anything I wanted to complain about and I did just that every Friday on the editorial page. After about a year, my column moved to the Tuesday's edition on the back page of the front section, which is supposedly a more high profile spot. I don't know if that's true, but they did give me a raise and I still complained about anything and everything from not being able to find bead molasses in the grocery store to Bubba Bill's philandering ways.
In the time I spent writing for the Journal Times, I never missed a deadline. That all stopped summarily and unexpectedly on July 16, 1997. The editor, Alan Buncher, simply said they decided to not run my column anymore. He claimed that the paper was looking to market to specific audiences and that they were making some changes to the back page. He also said that readers seem to like my column and that he liked what I wrote. So, as usual, I don't get it. Buncher told me that they were dropping my column and another, and that the other columns on the back page were going to change as well. Frankly, I haven't seen any changes on the back page, and I found out that the other columnist they supposedly dropped will be still be doing a column for the paper albeit in different section. God, I hate when people flat out lie to me.
I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to my readers, so this is it, unless the Journal Times asks me to come back. I'll still write and send material to different places, but it just won't seem the same. Do I feel treated shabbily? I don't know really. I'm just sort of numb. Would I come back and do it again? In a heart beat. You see, I loved doing the column, and I love writing.
I don't know if it would do any good, but if you want to complain about my column being dropped, you can email Alan Buncher, the editor. You can also email Peter Selkowe, the publisher. Or, you can call them at (414) 634-3322.
The purpose of this space is to share some of what I think were my best pieces. I also want to use the opportunity of the Internet to promote writing/editing services that I can offer to businesses, groups, or individuals.
If you like the columns, or want further information about services
contact me by email. If you
don't like them, you can leave some email,
too. If you're an editor of another publication and want to use a column
in some way, or want to see more, you can leave email
too, but you will probably have to pay me something to use the material.
|
|
|
|
|
