Margo Ashmore, 65
Owner/publisher, Northeaster, Minneapolis First job in news:
A volunteer position at WMMR radio news. My first paid position was the editor/coordinator at West Side/west St. Paul Voice newspaper. What are some of the most important lessons you have learned while working in news?
Every inch counts. Every word counts. Readers appreciate a paper that’s packed with good information.
Community newspapers have great power, which should be used wisely, as sometimes it is only power when exercised.
Know when to get out of the way so that someone else can do better. I learned this when we started a paper in 1991, North News for North Minneapolis. By 2010, I thought it could best contribute to the community as a youth journalism learning lab but was unsuccessful at getting that going. In 2015, I sold it to the nonprofit Pillsbury United Communities. They were able to follow through while building on our reputation. One of their earliest youth graduates has returned as their full-time reporter and youth program coordinator. When you reflect on your career to date, what brings you the greatest sense of accomplishment?
Being surprised at the unintentional impact a person or publication can make. Early in my career, reporters were all volunteers, so the culture was based on motivations other than money, such as an opportunity to stretch and benefits from informal mentoring. Probably 20 years after I worked with a 14-year-old boy, this young man wrote to me to say thanks for taking a chance on him and that he had gone on to work for one of the big news services. Occasionally I hear from someone that I gave them some good piece of advice or that an article changed their life. What are your predictions for where news publishing/news media is headed?
As long as publishers/owners don’t spend more than they take in, are not greedy, serve their communities and listen to their various audiences, geographic-based media — legacy/ local print, TV and radio — will survive. Everyone in an area having access to the same information at the same time (and easily find it in an archive for future reference) is necessary to democracy and stewardship of place.