Digest: Pent Up Posts

I’ve been busy, and I apologize for the lack of consistent postings.

However, I am becoming adjusted to my new environment and should be able to develop a schedule more conducive to blogging.

For now, though, I have a few things I need to get off of my chest.

New job, new fish

I have now been the editor of The Ledger for over a week, and I love it.

I have written a lot, and think my writing abilities will improve to some degree because I am going to have to stretch myself to find new ways to tell stories that have undoubtedly been told before.

Everything about this job is great, though, because I get to run my own paper. It’s a dream come true.

The only possible negative a person could see is that I am the only full-time staff member.

Sure, a person comes in on Monday’s to help type obits and press releases before Monday night’s production of The Ledger, and I have a correspondent in both Inman and Moundridge; however, I have to write everything else, which is something I’m not use to.

I enjoy it, though. It is good for me, and I like being able to pick up a paper and know I did it . . . all of it.

Of course, it does tend to get a little lonely, but I get the whole office to myself. Besides, I have a fish to keep my company.

It is a gold fish, and it has a bowl sitting on my main desk, which is where I am sitting now, typing this on my laptop between answering phone calls and talking with whoever happens to venture into the office.

The fish is a strange creature. He eats his food and then spits it back out before eating it again. Very strange.

The fish is named Leonard Waters. I know, really creative. I was going to name him Tim Russert, but then things changed my mind.

Two great communicators die

Tim Russert died June 13, which was a devastating blow to journalists across the country.

Russert was liked by all and respected for his fair play as he hosted “Meet The Press.”

I liked the show, and thought he was good at what he did. However, I’m not going to spend too much time talking about him here.

I didn’t know him personally. And I read one article online that questioned why journalists were spending so much time talking about a dead journalist when Iowa was experiencing flooding of Biblical proportions.

Besides, I couldn’t say anything any better than Russert’s son did at his father’s funeral.

Wow.

Of course, Russert isn’t the only icon to die recently.

George Carlin died Sunday.

I liked Carlin because even though he was a bit crass, he always stuck to what he said and made points that really caused moment for pause because what he said had a grain of truth to.

He is famous for his “seven dirty words” bit, and I will always remember one of his books because of the quirky title, “Napalm and Silly Putty.”

He will be missed.

Say it ain’t so, A.B. Say it ain’t so.

Anheuser-Busch, the American beer juggernaut based in St. Louis, is in talks with a Belgium brewer, InBev, about a possible buyout.

I can’t believe it.

A.B. is an American icon. We cannot lose it foreign hands.

Certain things are sacred, and a country’s beer brewer is one of them.

No decision has been made by A.B. yet, and I sincerely hope they choose wisely and keep the company as an American company.

Global economy or not, A.B. needs to stay local.

I could rant on this topic for days, but it would all come down to the same point: A.B. does a lot of good for the community through philanthropies, amusement parks and refreshing beverages.

Selling would undoubtedly change that.

Besides, A.B. beers are my favorite, and I want to continue drinking them. However, if the company sells I, much like many others in the country, will no longer be exclusive to the products they put on the shelves.

If nothing else crosses your mind, won’t you at least think of the Clydesdales?

I’ll be paying close attention to this situation, especially since it affects a city I love.

Miscellaneous thoughts to tie up the post

I have been reading Time Magazine a lot lately. That’s weird because I have always been a die-hard Newsweek fan, and I see the two as competitors. However, Time has hooked me two weeks in row for various technology articles. Newsweek hasn’t come close.

I have found I really like the band, Death Cab for Cutie. It is very mellow music, and I enjoy it. This is strange because I had a preconceived notion about it. Lesson learned: don’t assume anything.

I am going to be renting a house on the main street of Moundridge, Kan. It is like a block from my office. Take that gas prices.

I think I am addicted to Twitter. If you don’t know, it is a micro-blogging site where users get 140 characters so update friends and family on what they are doing at any given time. It’s fun. I update often from my BlackBerry. Follow my Twitter feed here.

Stay tuned for post about my take on “The Root.” It will be fun, even if controversial, read.

Also, a good friend of mine named Katie Anderson is working at The Jacksonville Journal-Courier in Jacksonville, Ill. She made an awesome multimedia piece for Father’s Day. Check it out here. It is great! Good work Katie!

Well . . . I think that about does it. The blogging urge has been satiated, but don’t worry. I promise to update more regularly. But until then . . .

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About toddvogts 833 Articles
Todd R. Vogts, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of media at Sterling College in Kansas. Previously, he taught yearbook, newspaper, newsmagazine, and online journalism in various Kansas high schools, and he ran a weekly newspaper in rural Kansas. He continues to freelance as a professional journalist from time to time. Also, Vogts is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), the Journalism Education Association (JEA), and the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC), among others. He earned his Master Journalism Educator (MJE) certification from JEA in 2022. When he’s not teaching or writing, he runs his mobile disk jockey service and takes part in other entrepreneurial ventures. He can be reached at twitter.com/toddvogts or via his website at www.toddvogts.com.

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