"Newspapers can break your heart. But I’ll let it be broken for what I got out of the deal."

[Double Down]

This piece on tearing down the Charlotte Observer newsroom, by Tommy Tomlinson, has been going around for a week or so. Hadn't seen it posted here.

If you ever spent any time inside a newsroom — and felt addicted to chaotic mix of adrenaline, joy, heartbreak and joy, that it offered — it's worth your time.

Goodbye, 600

 

[Alma]

Great stuff.

 

[trifectarich]

Some good stuff there. As long as I live I'll have a fond spot for the bells and the constant clickety-clack of the wire service teletype machine.

 

[Ace]

I loved the specifics. Loved how he listed names of people in other areas and what they did.

The description of the roar from the graphics department when someone made a great shot in Nerf basketball was awesome.

Kids, that's the difference between saying, "It was a fun place to work" and letting the readers see and hear the fun.

Also enjoyed the example of the questioning of the new CEO. I have been in many of those newsroom Q&As, and it's always a proud and uncomfortable moment when the new boss is grilled.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

15 years ago when I was working in sports, The Observer was my dream paper. ... Sigh.

 

[RedCanuck]

I shed a few tears reading that one. Well done.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Don't get me wrong, I love newspapers and all the experiences I've had ... but I just can't get all sentimental and misty-eyed over their demise. It's still work and work doesn't define who you are. At least it shouldn't.

Besides, when one door shuts, another door opens. I'm looking forward to my next adventure.

 

[MisterCreosote]

With all due respect, and to each his/her own: I'm glad people are able to keep such cherished memories, but I don't. Not anymore.

I have lasting friendships, of course, but the most prominent lasting memory I have is of loving something for many years that did not and would never love me back.

 

[CD Boogie]

It's still work and work doesn't define who you are. At least it shouldn't.

With sports writers more than other journalists, I think the schedule and the exigencies of the job have made them more likely to be defined by the role than, say, somebody who covered local politics for a long time and still had a relatively normal schedule. I considerate myself fortunate that my journalism career only included about eight years covering sports. It strained the hell out of my marriage. The hours and the commitment are designed for young people.

 

[OscarMadison]

They need to fix the focus on that page. It's blurry.

And for some of us, yes, our work does define us. Varying mileage and all that.

 

[WriteThinking]

That was a good read. As DD said, anyone who has spent any amount of time in a newsroom would "get" it, and would have felt it -- so familiar, and right, and good.

I like that they, um, built a wall . It's one that I'd love to see.

 

[I Should Coco]

Really enjoyed that. And his best point was this:

The best times were when a big story broke. All the petty disputes, all the efforts to avoid work that day, all that was dropped in an instant and the giant machinery of the newsroom meshed together. It was like watching a pile of parts assemble itself into a precision clock.

 

[Mystery Meat II]

A great piece of work. Though I confess when I saw "Charlotte" and "Goodbye, 600" I thought NASCAR was being stupid and moving the Coca-Cola 600.

 

[playthrough]

I miss the newsroom too, though when I really think about it, the greatest camaraderie I had was at my very first paper. Five of us on the sports desk making virtually pennies a day, but we would eat meals together, play golf together in the mornings before work and stay late at the bars after work. I thought the vibes would be even better when I got to the major metro but that proved to not really be true.

 

[expendable]

With all due respect, and to each his/her own: I'm glad people are able to keep such cherished memories, but I don't. Not anymore.

I have lasting friendships, of course, but the most prominent lasting memory I have is of loving something for many years that did not and would never love me back.

And still there's a piece of me that would consider going back to give it another shot.

It won't hurt me this time.
It can't hurt me this time.
Sad, really.

 

[Fredrick]

And still there's a piece of me that would consider going back to give it another shot.

It won't hurt me this time.
It can't hurt me this time.
Sad, really.

That's cause it's in your blood. Newspapers for years have taken advantage of the employees who have it in their blood. Terrible pay for the amount of hours worked and lack of home life.

 

[expendable]

That's cause it's in your blood. Newspapers for years have taken advantage of the employees who have it in their blood. Terrible pay for the amount of hours worked and lack of home life.

And give what they helped to cost me, you'd think I'd be able to swear them off for good. I'm in teaching, now. Steady paycheck, normal hours and summers off.

But if the right opportunity presented itself...

 

[jr/shotglass]

Plus, I don't think the guy above you was happy even when things were going good in newspapers. Just a hunch.

 

[Drip]

When I began my career, the typewriter, typing paper, correction fluid and a six pack were the norm. All have been replaced. Evolution is a mother.