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I once had a journalism professor in college — one of my favorites who I unfortunately have lost contact with — who always told us it was normally good when no one commented on your stories.
Her point was that if an editor didn’t say anything to you about your article once it ran in the newspaper, then everything must have been alright with what you had written. In other words, it was a quiet pat on the back.
On the other hand, if the editor asked to see you, it usually — but not always — meant that you had screwed up a fact, quote or something else.
For the most part, she was right. In fact, I remember the one time Jim Barbieri called me into his office after I had covered a Southern Wells graduation for the first time many years ago when I was first beginning to work here. My professor’s words came back to me as I walked into his 10-by-15 cluttered office.
“Nice job on the Southern Wells stories, but it’s important that we include people’s names when we write cutlines for pictures,” he said.
I had taken a picture of the school board but had not identified the members by name. It’s a mistake I’ve never made again, thanks to Jim’s gentle but firm reminder that we need to include as much information as we know for our readers. Jim knew better than most that people wanted lots of local news about their community.
I began writing this weekly column almost three years ago and only occasionally do I hear feedback, which I still take as a good sign.
But earlier this year I wrote an editorial about President Barack Obama’s historic election. In essence, it was a letter to the new president stating I shared his dream for what this nation can become once again.
Some of the feedback from that column, as I expected, was negative, but most people I spoke with after it ran on Inauguration Day agreed with the point I had made.
“You should send that to Obama,” a few said.
About a week later, I thought why not, as I clipped the article from Page 4, wrote a short note on a yellow Post-It note, stuck it on the column, put everything in a News-Banner envelope, and mailed it to Washington, D.C.
I didn’t expect a response because, as my journalism professor had told us, no news is good news.
Four months passed and I had completely forgotten about sending the column to Washington. I was checking my e-mail May 21, however, when I came across a message from News-Banner publisher and editor Mark Miller that said, “You’ve got mail ... from the White House.”
At first, I was perplexed, but then I remembered the column and Post-It note message I had mailed to the president back in January.
“Do they really respond to letters?” I wondered.
The answer: Yes.
“Thank you for your recent note, and for sharing your thoughts with me. Your kind words echo the messages of millions of Americans who have welcomed me and my family to the White House with an outpouring of goodwill.
“On January 20, Americans spoke with one voice, choosing hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. Our Nation faces serious challenges, but we will overcome them if our imagination is joined to common purpose.
“Now is our time to work together, reaffirm our enduring spirit, and choose our better history. With your help, we will renew our Nation’s promise to carry forth the great gift of freedom to future generations, as our forebears have delivered it to us.
It’s signed by the president ... I say with a stamp but others who have seen it say with a pen.
It was a surprise to receive a response, but at the same time encouraging to know that someone at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. is reading and responding to the bags of mail I’m sure they receive each week.
I guess the saying no news is good news isn’t always true.
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