Going through some old piles, I found a gem: a letter from Daughter #1, one of a number I received from her sixth-grade class, where I'd taught a session on journalism, and worked with the kids to put out a newspaper. At the time, my friend Ben Taylor was editor (maybe executive editor, can't remember precise title) of The Boston Globe, which meant that he was very gracious when I came up with the scheme to bring in the sixth-grade class for a tour. It was wonderful, to say the least. Here's the thank-you note I received, which speaks pressloads about what papers were like then and what community-minded management did to excite young people. Please note also the third paragraph, which says a lot about newspapers two decades ago:
2/16/89
Dear Ms. Lipnack,
Thank you for your wonderful class. The trip was great. I loved all of it but I think my favorite part was the Star Trek doors [the entrance to the darkroom]. I thought those were really neat. "You are entering the Twilight Zone" [what the head of the Globe's photography department said to the kids].
Before your class, I wouldn't believe you even if you said you could spend almost an hour-and-a-half looking at The Boston Globe. Ben Taylor was really nice. He gave a great tour. I was sorry when he had to go. I thought it was funny when Mr. Taylor was giving the tour and finding the City Desk without a person there, or Ellen Goodman [Globe columnist], the foreign reporters (what are their names?), and your idol, the man who writes the obits.
That was quite an advertising department but not quite as big as the newsroom. I'm just centering on the trip because that class was the most exciting.
Even though it was extra homework writing articles, it was fun and whenever (or if) "The Derby Street Digest" [name kids chose for their paper, where school is located] gets published, it will have only happened because of you. You can believe me when I say, "I'll never look at the newspaper the same way." Thanks!!
Your faithful daughter and student,
/name/
6th grade