Bill highlights self-serving motives

March 26, 2006

Simply Sleight/Kari Sleight

I've often been asked over the course of my career what it was that attracted me to the newspaper business, and what is its allure that has fueled my passion for nearly 25 years.

My enthusiasm for the written word dates back to early elementary school. But, truth be told, I owe my introduction to the publishing business to a mean-spirited, egotistical fast-food restaurant owner across the street from my hometown newspaper office.

I was a headstrong 17-year-old when I confronted this man who was my boss about cutting my hours to virtually nothing on the newly posted schedule. He told me if I didn't like it, I could always quit, so I told him that sounded like a good idea. As I was walking out the door, he yelled at me that no one in this town was going to hire a punk teenager except him, so I might as well turn around and put my apron on.

That cutting comment propelled me across the street to the newspaper office to fill out an application and begin my new job search. It so happened they had a part-time position open, evenings and weekends, that would fit my school schedule, and they hired me on the spot.

Location, they say, is everything.

Working in several departments off and on over the next several years gave me just enough exposure for ink to permeate my veins. I had many a veteran newspaper person warn me when I first went to work in the office that once the ink gets in your blood, you can never get it out.

More than the ink, it's the privilege of getting to tell the stories of the people in this community that keeps my passion alive. It's knowing that a community newspaper provides a public voice for its people to express their concerns and diverse personal views through our opinion pages. It's the ardent belief that what I do makes a difference.

The newspaper documents the history of the community it serves - the growing pains, the accomplishments, the victories and defeats, and, yes, we must include the unpleasant happenings in order to accurately reflect current events to preserve that history for future generations. Individual readers may not always agree with what we print, or with the opinions of those who write letters to the editor. In fact, we may not always agree with letters we print, but we understand the importance of freedom of speech and the necessity to fervently protect it.

The newspaper provides a check and balance for local, state and national governments. We proudly announce the births of our newest residents and mournfully herald the passing of others. We encapsulate the meetings and events for those who can't attend and share with our readers glimpses into the lives of people who make up this great community.

Clippings from our pages are hanging on refrigerators, pasted in scrapbooks, tucked into a family Bible, and mailed to friends and family every day. We make a difference in the community we serve, and touch many people in many ways with every edition we print.

We tell the stories of the community. How can you not be passionate about that?

Kari Sleight is the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman's publisher. Contact her at 352-2255 or kari.sleight@frontiersman.com.