–by Margie Doyle —

“Journalism” the profession of noting daily. For me, it started with Anne Frank’s diary and my Aunt Connie’s scribblings before she started her “day jobs” of painting Hollywood celebrities and corresponding for Ricky Nelson’s foreign fans. Her husband, my Uncle Harry and my dad’s oldest brother, “kited” checks back and forth from Seattle to Los Angeles — another story. However, nothing could raise my gentle father’s ire more than to leave the newspaper spread out on the living room floor, my preferred method of reading the daily journals of our community, Seattle.

Now as I start a new journal –2019 — I reflect, for my own pleasure, on the reading I’ve done this last year, before I retire my leather-bound journal for 2018.

  • “The Yid” by Paul Goldberg
  • “Iron Heel” by Jack London
  • “Fire in the Blood” by Irene Nevirovsky
  • “Kiki of Montparnesse”
  • “Growing Blind in Seattle” by Richard Schachere
  • “The Plot Against America” by Philip Roth
  • “Mighty Be Our Powers” by Leymah Gbowee
  • “The Wife’s Tale” by Lori Lansens
  • “Hour by Hour” (poetry) by Laurel Rust
  • “Glass Houses” by Louise Penny
  • “The Oath” by Jeffrey Toobin
  • “Red Notice” by Bill Browder
  • “House of Putin, House of Trump” by Carl Unger
  • “Eligible” by Curtis Sittenfeld

Beyond my reading for pleasure and discussion, I’m indebted to the other
professional journals that inform my knowledge of our greater world:

  • Columbia Journalism Review
  • NY Times
  • Washington Post
  • Crosscut: News of the Great Nearby
  • Seattle Globalist

And Orcas Issues, News and Views. Started 10 years ago, I still write many of the articles and read every press release submission which, with Managing Editor Lin McNulty, we post. We solicit articles and sometimes editorials and contract with local journalists to write for Orcas Issues. I also read the comments submitted, and sometimes seek to publish them as individual articles or editorials when they are particularly well-expressed.

I also edit comments if the information known within them is inaccurate, or if they are derogatory of private individuals, or if they are repetitive or illogical. Yes, this is my call, in great part because I have personal ethics to maintain, and because I have no obligation to print, in this private media enterprise, supported by the local and journalistic community, comments or articles which I feel do not serve my community.

Finally, and first, I would like to salute the journalists, paid and in public service, who provide the information that enables readers to participate fully in our community. A simple, but heartfelt thanks, to Matthew Gilbert and Susan McBain, who have reported on our Port, Fire and Hospital Districts, and on the Comprehensive Plan update and Environmental initiatives. Thank you also to Deborah Sparks and Kim Kimple who have responded to our recent call for new reporters.

Beyond words, thanks are due to Lin McNulty, with whom our work together provides a touchstone for integrity, compassion, individualism and humor.

One of my favorite sayings is “In the face of uncertainty, there’s nothing wrong with hope.”

With eyes on the prize and with hearts filled with hope, we go on. Thank you.

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