James_Jan-Feb_2026_web - Flipbook - Page 89
first stepped into
a daily newspaper
office when I was a
know-it-all 23-year-old
graduate of the University of Georgia’s
Henry W. Grady School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The
paper was The Augusta Chronicle
and then-Publisher Billy Morris had
hired me as an editorial writer. It
was a dream job. The publisher and
I agreed on a large majority of the
issues of the day that I wrote about.
Even if I didn’t personally agree with
an editorial he wanted, I wrote it
anyway to the best of my ability. After all, he owned the paper, not me.
And he paid my salary.
During the 1980s and ’90s I
was the editorial page editor
and got to interview everyone
ranging from local public officials and governors to members of Congress, presidential
candidates and presidents. I
did my research, wrote my editorials and columns, met my deadlines, the printing press cranked out
the papers and they were delivered
far and wide.
Those were the years when
daily newspapers had money, so
The Chronicle occasionally sent me
to write and send back columns to
the whole Morris newspaper chain
when I visited places ranging from
South Africa and the Berlin Wall to
Taiwan and the North and South
Korean Demilitarized Zone. General
Assembly sessions in Atlanta were
among my favorite assignments. The
newsroom reporters, of course, were
a great resource and triggered a lot
of local and Georgia-oriented editorials and columns. I naturally learned
a lot about my community, state, nation and the world during my newspaper salad days. And I believe my
readers learned a lot from my work.
In the case of Georgia, media
outlets are the most successful when
they highlight stories that make
people feel connected. I’m talking
about covering the latest in business
and politics that affects everyone’s
wallet. Also, publishing profiles of
people who make a difference or are
major influencers in our community
and state. Additionally, there must
be emphasis on topics ranging from
A Fractured Environment
Sadly, though, a fractured media sports and religion, and even topics
environment has evolved, with large like new restaurants opening or
where would be great places to visit
newspapers cutting staff and covor take a vacation.
erage. Also, poll after poll indicate
One of my longtime print newsconfidence and trust in the tradipaper friends, Llewellyn King,
tional corporate mainstream media
reminds me that if you know what’s
has seriously eroded. Interestingly,
going on in Gaza, it is because a
journalist told you. If you know that
Hurricane Helena devastated
the whole coast of Georgia and
especially Augusta, it is because you read details from a
print or digital platform.
Good point.
Yet when I reflect about the “the
media” these days, it still brings
me back to how times have rapidly
though, these polls show about
changed since I worked in Augusta
two thirds of respondents say they
trust local print and digital newspa- and moved to Atlanta at the start of
the 21st century to begin a new busipers and online news outlets that
ness/journalism career. Big newspaprovide facts that keep civic life
pers started adopting the paywall as
running. For example: Coverage of
the model for the future, and others
local and statewide public policy
had to follow. Many big print newsissues and debates, local and state
papers went the way of the Dodo
elections that rarely make national
bird; many are now struggling to
news, along with holding public
make a decent profit.
officials accountable and how our
taxpayer money is spent. All these
matter to our daily lives.
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