My newspaper career started at the Marblehead Reporter at 8 Anderson St, in the early 1980s. I was 21 and the advertising representative for the real estate section of the paper.
There was never a dull moment. This was before computers, cell phones, the internet or even fax machines. There was a steady stream of people stopping by to deliver letters to the editor, place an ad, drop off a photo, give a tip or offer a complaint…we saw it all in that small, loud office. There was a colorful cast of characters on both sides of the counter, and I loved it.
I felt a sense of pride each week seeing the finished paper coming off the presses and hitting the streets, knowing I played some small part in getting that paper into homes. And knowing that we had done our best to support the town by providing essential local news to a vibrant, informed community.
I went on to work for newspapers for over 30 years. I worked for some of the oldest community newspapers in the country and helped launch quite a few new ones. I worked for the Boston Globe, New York Times Digital, Boston.com and over 100 weeklies combined.
The sense of pride I felt at creating something weekly, daily or online, never changed. I knew people looked to us, newspapers, to get the real story, and I wanted to make sure they could count on us being there with dependable news, telling the whole story. And the times we got it wrong, they could trust we would own up to that and do our best to set the record straight.
In the early 2000s, the publisher of The Boston Globe held a small lunch to honor journalists at the paper who had been embedded with troops. I was invited, the lunch was held in the publisher’s dining room, just one table with 10-12 people. One-by-one each of these incredibly talented and dedicated journalists shared stories involving close calls, rooftop escapes, the guides (locals and taxi drivers) who took big risks to help our reporters get the story for our readers.
The whole time I was listening thinking, “Why am I here?” When it was my turn to speak, I introduced myself and explained that my small contribution was working with my team to secure funding from advertisers, and together with the Department of Defense, we were able to deliver special copies of the paper (actual papers) to the troops. To be honest, it felt incredibly insignificant in comparison to the accomplishments of this group, a few going on to win Pulitzers even. Then the reporters and photographers there thanked me. They shared how much they appreciated and counted on the sales staff to deliver the funds to allow them to do their jobs, and to get the paper out each day.
With the demise of so many community newspapers, including my hometown paper the Marblehead Reporter, I saw an opportunity to get involved to support the Marblehead Current as a volunteer board member and to oversee advertising sales.
I invite you to join me and to help support the Current to keep this paper, which so many (including me) have grown to depend on and love, coming. And the next time you see the paper, whether it’s in your mailbox or when you are out around town, you can join me in feeling that sense of pride in knowing we are doing our part to sustain a local independent newspaper and engage the community in a meaningful way.
To make a donation please visit MarbleheadCurrent.org/donate. The Current Board of Directors will match all donations up to $3,000.
And … if you happen to own a business or offer a service, can I interest you in an ad?
Donna Rice is a member of the Current’s Board of Directors and oversees advertising.
You’re awesome, Donna!