Most of the public speaking requests I receive are from business-oriented groups curious about the present state of the newspaper industry or area college classes curious about the future of the newspaper industry.

I speak for United Way when asked because the organization played such an important role in my family’s life when it was most needed.

On occasion, a high school group offers me an opportunity to speak about journalism and the mysteries of life, career and balancing the two. These moments of interaction are a great opportunity to gather feedback and offer humble advice on the one or two matters I am comfortable opining on, and the audiences are usually patient and generous hosts. A brief Media Day lecture I gave at Maumee Valley Country Day School in March was so hotly anticipated, my audience included Lucas County Republican Party Chairman Jon Stainbrook and Blade reporter JC Reindl, who covered the event to completion.

Some speaking events are a pleasant surprise; I was not sure what to expect from the political group Children of Liberty when I addressed them (having to follow a rousing speech by WSPD’s Fred LeFebvre, no less), but they were open-minded and welcoming to all points of opinion.

Some speaking events are the other kind of surprise. I spoke on Oct. 17 to The Northwest Ohio Writers’ Forum, about interview techniques and some of the particulars of journalism writing. I have tremendous respect for the group’s president, Elizabeth Irwin, and the efforts of its writers. During the question-and-answer session, someone, as someone usually does, asked me about the future of The Blade. I stated my opinion that Toledo’s daily, like a great many daily newspapers across the country, is facing unprecedented challenges, and I will not be surprised if, like a great many other daily newspapers across the country, The Blade is at some point forced to reduce its physical printing days, like the Detroit dailies have. I also mentioned, as I usually do when asked, that Toledo needs a daily investigative print product.

Someone in the audience that day, who has never had the courage or civility to reveal him or herself, reported my words inaccurately to The Blade. On Nov. 13, I received a letter from Marshall & Melhorn, The Blade’s lawyers, claiming I had made the statement that the daily “would go out of business in May of 2010,” a ridiculous statement I have never uttered.

If I had specific proof of that, which, to be clear, Counsel, I do not, I wouldn’t tell a group of 20 aspiring writers at a Sylvania library; I’d buy the “Toledo Pride” signs and splash the news across the city in huge red block letters. Pun intended.

The letter “demanded that [I] issue a letter of retraction to the Writers’ Forum.” Our lawyers interviewed a number of those who attended the forum and no one interviewed recalled any such statement by me; therefore, there was no reason for any retraction. Request denied.

To my knowledge, the daily newspaper, which will be in business forever and will never, ever hit any iceberg, because God himself could not sink that publication, apparently did not have any moles at the two speeches I gave Feb. 2, but I guess I won’t know for sure until I hear from its attorneys.

Diana DeSloover of the Wildwood Environmental Academy asked me to speak to the the Great Lakes Environmental Academy high school classes about the importance of education and communication skills, then make the short trip to Wildwood Environmental Academy to talk to fifth and sixth graders about reading and writing.

The two charter schools provided disparate and attentive audiences, and as usual, I learned as much from the students as I tried to teach them. Both groups asked questions that challenged authority and demonstrated great insight into the relationship between the media and the public.

Students at both schools, miles and years in age apart, were curious about media “twisting” and “making up” stories; neither fifth graders nor high school seniors seemed to question if such fabrications exist, nor were they noticeably outraged or disturbed by the concept. They just seemed accepting, as if media distortions are part of standard operating procedure.

As they are learning about media in Toledo, I would have been a liar to dissuade them of that perception, although I did discuss the many consequences readers pay when papers “twist” and “make up stories.”

At the Wildwood fifth grade class, the students and I talked about books, writing, commas, incomes, houses, comic strips, newspaper circulation and why diagramming sentences is a monotonous but necessary tool for gaining command of the language.

At Wildwood, classrooms combine students from across the spectrum; “special needs” students, “normal” students and “above average” students share a classroom. The students are tolerant, inclusive and wonderfully patient with each other. It was an eye-opening experience; at my public school, special needs students were kept out of the mainstream and were consequently teased and shunned when any interaction occurred.

I was impressed by the piercing honesty exhibited by those Wildwood “children.” I wish all the adults I connect with at public events could be as honest and grown up as they were.

Michael S. Miller is editor in chief of Toledo Free Press. Contact him at mmiller@toledofreepress.com.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 5th, 2010 at 12:01 am and is filed under Lighting The Fuse, Opinion.
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