"Tenet insanibile scribendi cacoethes."
Many are possessed by the incurable itch to write.
Horace
1st Century BC
As a child, I would watch my Dad read the newspaper. The idea that a sheet of paper could carry news intrigued me. It intrigues me still. Last Wednesday, twenty-two Trinity students toured The Charlotte Observer; a joint field trip for the students in Amy McNelis' Communication Arts class and the students in my Creative Writing class. The visit exceeded my expectations. The details were arranged by Liz Irwin, a Trinity parent and Charlotte Observer VP, Advertising. Liz gave an overview of the paper, touching on various points of advertising. Rick Thames, Editor, shared four reasons people become journalists:
1. Writers, in love with the printed word
2. Curious, lifelong learners
3. Nosey, wanting to be the first to know
4. Missionaries wanting to change the world
Mr. Thames pointed to a sign which hangs in the conference room where we met. In bold type are these words-
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment 1
Last wednesday, twenty- two high school students witnessed the First Amendment in action.
The press
The ink
The paper
Production
Chuck Griffiths, Operations VP, explaining page setup
The Newsroom
Don Williamson, sharing his 'piece in progress'
Kevin Siers, Editorial Cartoonist, and me
Amy McNelis and Fannie Flono, Associate Editor
What a great time they must have had. I hope and pray that the impact of the visit and the truth of our freedoms will have a lasting impact upon the students and those who follow after them.
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