Laurie Hertzel started out with what I would have once called my dream job. She worked in a library. Later, when offered a chance to work at a Duluth Minnesota newspaper, she jumped at the chance – jumped… before even realizing what the job entailed. Laurie found herself running copy, writing obits, answering phones, and making coffee (which is something she dis not drink and had to fill the large carafe in the only sink deep enough… the ones in the men’s room).
Despite Laurie’s start in newspaper with little previous experience, she watched and learned, moving horizontally and then eventually up the ladder to reporter, and then journalist. The times that Laurie describes in this book of her journey… well… times… they were a changing, and Laurie was right in the middle of it.
The story of her career was a chance to accompany a group of “Duluthians” (I know right? This is what she refers to people of Duluth as) to the USSR in 1986 to build a relationship with a potential sister city. The result of this trip not only leads to a great newspaper story, but also relationships between a USSR city and the city of Duluth Minnesota that stand strong even today. This trip eventually led to a second trip where she wrote a book, They Took My Father, based on a true story.
Laurie’s book is lighthearted and funny as she shares the happenings with co workers, and all that is shared in a newsroom.
I listened to Laurie at an event at my local Library this week. I went in knowing chances are I was getting the book… what I wasn’t expecting was after Laurie shared with the 44 people in the room exerts from her book, how much I wanted the book. To the point that I was eyeballing how many books she brought with her, vs… the people in the room and concerned she would run out before I got my hands on one! 😛
Laurie’s book kept me up late into the night. I could not put it down. Her delightful retelling of her time in newspaper when women were not really valued as anything more than wives. The papers even still referred to women as Mrs. John Doe – using the husband’s name to identify them… or describing them in the papers as a petite blond, or other now controversial titles.
The antics of the newsroom in the 70’s was pretty interesting. The guys smoked at their desks… and the women were expected to just do their job. In one instance, Laurie describes a female coworker becoming impatient when the single women’s bathroom was occupied and she marched herself into the men’s room. Afterwards, one of the men asked if she was having her monthly since she was so crabby (yes, you read that right)…the woman along with another female offered to make a “flow chart” so the guys could document if they were truly upset…or just hormonal. 😛 Happily, it did not come to this.
There are many other great stories, both funny and amazing that Laurie discusses in her years leading up to where she
is now, the Senior books editor of the Minneapolis Star and Tribune. Yes, that’s right… I am reviewing the book of a senior book editor. 😯
When Laurie talks about the Congdon Murders taking place while she was working for the newspapers, that blew me away. The murders that took place in Duluth in 1977 were later on trial in my home town Brainerd Mn. This is long before I knew anything about the Congdon’s, but in my adult life I have toured the Congdon Mansion many times.
When Laurie writes about her time in the USSR with a camera person and the other delegates from Duluth I thought maybe the book would take a turn to the less passionate for me. Boy was I wrong… what I thought may be heavy information about the trip and Russia was still handled with Laurie Hertzel’s flare for getting to the story. I found myself just as engrossed in this section as all the others of the book.
I loved this read. As a lover of words, writing, and crazy opportunities, Laurie seemed like an adventurous person after my own heart. She inspired me. She will inspire you.
When Laurie was speaking here is what she said when asked about the future of newspapers: “Newspapers should always have a place in the world. People like to hold them, they like the feel of them. On line newspapers are great if you know what you are looking for, but difficult to maneuver when you are just reading. Love on your newspapers.”
Laura Hertzel, July 2011
Amazon Rating
Goodreads Review
The 2011 WHERE Are You reading map has been updated to include News To Me, University Of Minnesota Press
I purchased this book from Laurie Hertzel when she was speaking at out library
Book Journey 