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This past week the Wisconsin Newspaper Association held its annual convention which featured many awards for excellence in the industry. I was in attendance, something I have done annually for more years than I want to put on paper.
My highlight was being able to share part of Friday with our Future Headliner Kasi Greenwood and her family. She was recognized as one of the best young people in our industry who have committed themselves to getting the news into your hands each week.
As the convention went on I couldn't help but notice that there are many young people who are involved in journalism which was refreshing to see. I remember when I was in their place in life and I had to smile.
When I was their age we hand wrote or typed our stories and gave them to the compositor, the person who would put them into type for the paper. Later machines for typesetting and headline making were introduced and a conversion from hot metal to offset printing. In those days we never thought we would take anything more than a reporter's notebook and a pen filled with ink to an interview.
It didn't take all that long for technology to find its way into our industry and laptops, Ipads and smart phones have drastically changed how we do business in a good way.
The young journalists received several messages from the speakers and us old-timers.
-Everyone has a story
-You will not find fake news in local newspapers
-You make a difference
-There is always something more to learn
The awards ceremony featured the best in 68 different categories. Again it was impressive to see so many young people go to the stage to accept their plaques. Couldn't help but think that they are our future.
I trust the young people who are involved in our field. I am so confident in them that I am leaving my typewriter in storage.