JOURNALISM is not the easiest of professions. With long hours, tight deadlines, less-than-ideal wages and plenty of stress, journalism can be a challenging career choice. Of those who make it a career, only a handful devote their time to one community.
When journalists invest their career in one community, that community is better off because journalists know the people, places and issues.
In our area, several people have hit career milestones and deserve a pat on a back for serving their communities well.
The first is radio news broadcaster Jeff O’Dell. This is O’Dell’s 30th year of reporting for KVOE. People tell me that in the radio world, O’Dell is the consummate professional. No matter how hectic the news is, he always sounds calm on the radio. One radio insider even said that O’Dell maintained his composure when coworkers turned out the lights on him and he couldn’t read his copy.
The second journalist deserving a pat on the back is Gazette editorial page editor Patrick Kelley. Last week, Kelley celebrated his 40th anniversary at the paper. In those 40 years, Kelley has watched hundreds of staffers pass through the paper and has had to adapt to ever-changing technology. Being an editorial writer is especially challenging, because coming up with and writing editorials every day is not an easy task and many do not agree with your opinions.
The third journalist deserving a pat on the back is in Council Grove. Don McNeal is celebrating 70 years at the Council Grove Republican. What can one say except WOW. When McNeal started at the Republican, Adolph Hitler was in power in Germany. Today, McNeal comes to the paper every day and writes stories and columns.
Journalists are important to communities. In a society where people move from job to job, these people set a good example of sticking with a meaningful career and giving their best to their communities.