The latest so-called “newsletter” from the top editor of Maine’s largest daily reads more like a letter home from summer camp.
Or maybe it’s a letter home to mom for upcoming Mother’s Day, which coincidentally is Sunday.
Either way, it’s the furthest thing from a “newsletter,” which in the infinite wisdom of the Maine Trust for Local News is supposed to contain… news?
“Last week was spring break for much of Maine, my family included,” executive editor Carolyn Fox writes. “We spent five days in Quebec City after traveling north up the Kennebec River through Jackman and across the border.
“It felt good to step away from the responsibilities of this job to wander the fairytale streets of Old Quebec with my daughter and husband (though if you ask my 4-year-old, she’d say her favorite part was the hotel pool).”
Ah there’s Carolyn, burdened by what will be, as her friend Kamala would say. “Responsibilities of this job.” (Fox wants to make sure you caught that.)
But alas there’s work to be done, such as avoiding any further delays in letting reporter Reuben Schafir know whether the trust has enough money in the budget for “gun range time and ammunition (that’s all I’ll say for now).”
Whoa!
But enough about Reuben and his ammo – the big scoop Carolyn can’t spill on just yet. Aww, so cute. Such a tease, that Carolyn, isn’t she?
After her family trip, “the return to work Monday was rough” Fox says. Wow, there’s a peek into the unknown.
A few more “bulleted” highlightsof Fox’s latest “newsletter:
”√ Photo of Lorea Telletxea and her doubles partner Valentina Padilha high-fiving each other during a pickup tennis game, noting that “Telletxea is from Spain and Padilha is from Brazil.” Extra credit for DEI.
√ Sports reporter Drew Bonifant asking Fox if she knows anyone who can translate Korean. (Fox proudly points out she took time away from writing her “newsletter” looking for a Korean.) More credit for DEI.
√ Later this month, after decades of dedicated work covering southern Maine, reporter Bob Lowell will be retiring. “If you see Bob around town, please congratulate him.” Aye aye captain!
“Many of my working moments are now spent in strategy and budget meetings, or helping editors manage up, down and across,” the strategist Fox is more than glad to disclose.
“The opportunities to work with reporters directly have become fewer,” she lamented. (No credit for DEI.)
Then a fawning mention of her boss for extra points: “I feel honored to be a part of charting our path forward with publisher Stefanie Manning and her leadership team.“
But it was nice to spend a few hours Tuesday just doing journalism. It was a reminder of why I’ve given so much to this calling – always for the readers, but also for the joy of being with other journalists.”
Did you catch that? “I’ve given so much to this calling.”
“Always for the readers,” Ms. Sacrifice quickly adds.“For the joy of being with other journalists.”
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