Breakfasts with Terry are good for the soul

By KEN ESTEN COOKE, TPA President 2023-24

We crawl into a booth or sit ourselves at a table. It can be during cold times of the year, where we can’t wait for the hot coffee to be poured, or a sweltering summer day, when we reflexively chug the complimentary water. But no matter the time of year, I value these breakfasts or lunches with Terry Collier, the retired publisher of the Fredericksburg Standard.

“You’re the only person who knows exactly what I go through,” I told him at one of our first meetings a dozen years ago. We talk about employee challenges, the price of newsprint, profit-and-loss statements, politics and other news and industry topics. 

We also talk about family. When my family arrived in Fredericksburg 13 years ago, Terry agreed to serve as my oldest son’s confirmation mentor at our church. I thought that was above and beyond, but Terry jokes my precocious then-12-year-old frequently stumped him with heavy faith questions.

But whether Terry offers his frequent sage advice or just a friendly ear, it’s good to talk things out with someone who understands. (Terry was also Texas Press Association President in 2008-2009, as was his predecessor, Art Kowert, in the 1950s.) Terry serves as a mentor to me, whether he realizes it or not. I’m fortunate to have that relationship, as not every new publisher is supported by the one who previously held the seat.

My father and most-trusted life advisor, Bill Cooke, lives two hours away. And my boss and über-knowledgeable resource, Jim Moser, is three hours away, though both answer the phone readily with advice. Former University of Texas journalism professor Griff Singer lives in Austin and I’m fortunate to grab a cup of coffee with him every blue moon. But I’m still glad to have a local, in-person connection in Terry. And even though I’m in my mid-fifties and have no small amount of ink in the blood, all of us who sit in the chair of a publisher, editor or reporter need a friend to talk things out. 

A mentor is someone to bounce off all the concerns and complaints that come our way as publishers. Those of us with strong editorial opinions can be frequent lightning rods, especially in this day of grievance politics and cancel culture. We can be the target of ad boycotts and “unsubscribes” by people who simply disagree with something we wrote. So seeking out a friend can help us maintain our sanity amid the frustrations.

I want to commend Chris Lykins, who works for Southern Newspapers Inc. He penned a brave column before the holidays about mental health and reaching out for help, particularly for those of us who see ourselves as too macho to ask for professional assistance. It struck a chord and likely caused more than a few people to schedule a therapy visit. Well done, Chris.

In my first column back in July, I mentioned some of the strong people in our industry who shaped me as a publisher. Let’s stay strong and lean on each other to get through this tough era that’s filled with challenges. Some people are rooting against the free press. But let’s stick together, support one another and make our industry strong again.

TPA and Contest

At a recent breakfast, Terry and I spoke about the Texas Press Association and the benefits of belonging. Just like having a mentor, it’s good to be able  to reach out and have someone who understands what you’re experiencing. That’s a huge benefit of your TPA membership. Over the decades, I have reached out to the TPA staff and fellow TPA publishers many times to get help with issues that may need the perspective of an association or member.

The 2023 TPA Better Newspaper Contest entry period opened Jan. 22 and goes through Feb. 20. Celebrate your staff members by entering their dedicated work. And after you enter the contest, plan on attending the 2024 TPA Convention and Trade Show, set for June 20-22 at the Hilton College Station Conference Center and Hotel. Meet your friends, mentors and fellow journalists in arms. Your attendance is critical to keeping a healthy organization that advocates for you at many levels. TPA is one of the best press associations in the nation, so let’s keep it that way.

In the Cue: 

“What Works in Community News: Media Startups, News Deserts, and The Future of the Fourth Estate,” by Ellen Clegg and Dan Kennedy. I downloaded this on Audible, and it’s a good listen about experiments and success stories about what’s working in the changing environment of the news business. Of particular interest is a profile of the Storm Lake Times-Pilot, a rural paper in Iowa innovating with a hybrid for-profit/non-profit model.

I also cued up a video of a panel of journalists who outlined issues facing our industry in a video called “Extra, Extra: How to Solve the Local News Crisis.” It’s worth your time and you can view it by clicking here.

Please connect on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Threads or X (@kenestencooke), or email me at ken@fredericksburgstandard.com.