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June 5, 2009

 
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Stan's guidance was worth a buck – and then some


Posted at 12:06 pm by Neal Pattison

Yesterday, former executive editor Stan Strick died. He helped shape the content and character of The Herald for more than two decades.

This morning, I found a dollar bill in my office mail slot.

Let me explain the connection.

I knew – just as Stan would have known – that the dollar came from one of our employees who was simply doing the right thing.

Freebies arrive at The Herald every week – product samples, flower arrangements, books and bric-a-brac. These are usually thank you gestures or public relations gimmicks.

No matter how tempting an item might seem, nobody on The Herald news staff would dream of taking it home – not without making a contribution to the newsroom’s fund for worthy, local charities.

That’s been the practice for as long as anyone around here can remember.

Stan Strick was a keeper of the flame, reminding people that short cuts don’t make for good community journalism – and principles apply to the little things as well as the big things.

Yes, it is easier to get juicy quotes if you allow unnamed sources. No, Stan would remind reporters, Herald readers won't trust anonymous sources.

Yes, it is quicker and cheaper to fill news pages with wire service copy. No, Stan would argue, we owe our community a newspaper that's filled with local news.

And yes, if a publicist sends a single red rose to the newsroom, it is no big deal if you want to take it home to your spouse. No, Stan (and those who worked with him) would insist, if you want the darn rose, pay for it.

So, this morning there was a buck in the editor’s mailbox.
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