 49er 
Editor reminisces about
competition for breaking stories
Working on the Daily Forty-Niner -- sorry,
but we did spell it out back when I was on staff -- was easily the
highlight of my college experience.
During my time we put out an award-winning
special section on gangs and we produced the first "extra" edition
in decades when former university President Steve Horn abruptly
resigned his post at 5 p.m. on a Friday.
Jeff Mitchell
Editor in chief, spring 1988
Producing the extra was a product
of wanting to serve our readers and wanting to make sure we weren't beaten
by The Union, a dreadful if not free-spirited weekly published by the Associated
Students and edited by my now good friend, Bob James.
Of course, back then it'd be fair
to say that Bob and I weren't so very chummy.
In fact the idea of Bob having the advantage
of getting his paper out on the stands before I could get the Forty-Niner
out there, was driving me and my fellow editors nuts.
So, with a skeleton crew and just
about anyone we could find with a pulse, we labored long into that
Friday night to put out a special four-page edition.
The edition didn't have any advertising,
so it cost us a small fortune to produce. But, it was definitely
worth it.
Looking back, I wouldn't trade a second
of all the long hours, nights and weekends we put into getting the paper
out.
I defy anyone to name another academic
discipline where students get to share their lab work with the entire university.
It's a tough learning environment,
but, then again, it has to be. It's not an easy profession.
Despite the negative public opinion polls
and despite the long hours and horrible pay, journalists still play a critical
role in our society.
The industry needs smart, ethical, dedicated
people to join our ranks.
Jeff Mitchell is a city editor with
the North (San Diego) County Times, a 90,000-circulation daily newspaper
based in Escondido.
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