Award Winning Genesee Bridge, I-70, Exit 254 |
I
read an article in a local Northern Colorado newspaper which I felt needed a
personal response to the editor. I know budget constraints
and small staffs require local papers to pull free articles from other sources about people outside their readership.Still, why can’t they introduce the same subject about
members of their own community?
This article
highlighted a woman artist in Arizona and quoted a man who said women artists
were not good enough to exhibit in art shows. The statement was probably made
many years ago. But, why write about an Arizona artist when Northern
Colorado hosts a wealth of women artists. I emailed the editor.
I suggested
his community offered plenty of fodder for articles on women artists. I quoted my
research on early women western artists so a reporter might inform the
readership on how many women have accomplished artistic success since the 1800s and
even before. I named local women artists he could have featured. Unfortunately,
his response indicated he missed my points. I figured I burned that bridge. So,
I tried to “kill him with kindness.”
I
apologized for insinuating he might support such a ludicrous comment, assured
him I never believed such a thing, and restated my point. A few weeks later, an
article on a local woman artist appeared in the paper. I sent a congratulatory
email on a feature well done.
Sunday
I received a phone call from a reporter with the paper. He wants to interview
me today about my books. I asked where he heard of me and my writing. He said his
boss assigned the article.
Guess
my bridge wasn’t burned after all. Have you writen out of your comfort zone and found a bridge to success?
6 comments:
Good job, Linda! I do wonder why locals are sometimes overlooked by local media.
Thanks, Jenny.
Like so many writers, I find it simpler to write about myself, to reflect. Anything else is a bit out of my comfort zone, but I am trying. Nice post!
Must have been a great feeling :)
The interview went well. We just talked a lot about book marketing "off the record." Now we'll see how the article comes out.
Nice job gently sticking your foot in the door for yourself and many others.
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