Missouri Press Association
Serving Missouri Newspapers Since 1867
One of the ideas approved at our June board meeting was an effort to encourage more people to attend this year’s convention. You’ll read more about that elsewhere in the July issue of Missouri Press News or on the Association's website, but it got me thinking about something that I believe is critically important to the future of our industry: mentorship.
When most people think about conventions, they think about speakers, awards and networking opportunities. Those things certainly matter. But some of the most valuable moments happen in the conversations between sessions, over breakfast or while catching up with colleagues you only see a few times a year. These conversations are often where knowledge gets passed from one generation to the next.
Our industry is in the middle of tremendous change. New technology, changing consumer habits and evolving business models require all of us to continue learning and adapting. At the same time, we are losing decades of institutional knowledge as experienced newspaper professionals retire or leave the business. That knowledge is incredibly difficult to replace.
Over lunch in Hermann, I had a conversation with Trevor Vernon about the importance of preserving expertise. When Trevor took over the press operation from his father, he didn’t just inherit equipment. He inherited knowledge. His father made sure he understood every aspect of the operation because he knew those skills would matter someday. As parts become harder to find and fewer people understand how to maintain older equipment, that knowledge has become even more valuable.
The lesson extends far beyond the pressroom.
I have never worked in production or circulation, but I learned a tremendous amount from former Columbia Missourian circulation manager Bruce Moore. Bruce was always willing to explain how things worked and why they worked that way. He helped me better understand parts of the business that I otherwise would have never been exposed to.
As my career progressed and our organizational chart changed, that relationship never changed. The trust and respect were already established. I continued learning from him because he possessed knowledge and experience that I simply didn’t have.
When I look back on my career, Bruce wasn’t my only mentor. I’ve been fortunate to learn from several people, each bringing a different perspective and a different set of experiences.
I think that variety made me better. It challenged assumptions I had about the newspaper business and helped me see problems from different angles. That’s one of the reasons I believe mentorship should be a priority for all of us.
If you’ve been in this industry for a long time, there is someone who could benefit from what you’ve learned. There is likely someone in your newsroom, your advertising department, your pressroom or your community who would be better because you took the time to share your knowledge and experience.
Likewise, if you’re early in your career or stepping into a new role, don’t be afraid to seek out people who can help you grow. Some of the most valuable mentors you’ll find may not be your supervisor or even work in the same area of the business. They may simply be people who know things you don’t know yet.
The future of Missouri newspapers depends on innovation. It depends on embracing new ideas and new technologies. But it also depends on preserving the knowledge that already exists within our industry. Every newspaper in Missouri has someone who knows something that won’t be found in a manual when they retire.
Every one of us has lessons learned through experience, mistakes and successes that could help someone else avoid a few bumps in the road.
As we prepare for the convention this fall, I hope you’ll consider bringing someone along. Not just because they’ll enjoy the speakers or the banquet, but because they’ll have the opportunity to build relationships that can last a career.
The conversations we have today may be the knowledge that helps sustain Missouri newspapers tomorrow.
