Columnist could go renegade

I'm not an angry person. I'm too meek and mild to get mad very often, and even rarer is going ballistic, but then there are those few occasions.

The email came without warning. I didn't see it coming. There was no hint. I was clueless, and caught off guard. And when finally the words sunk in, I went crazy. It wasn't pretty. It was nasty. I was ugly. Like the Tasmanian devil character, I started whirling, swirling, foaming at the mouth, mumbling, cussing, pulling at my hair. Fuming. Nasty. Ugly. Very ugly and very nasty.

I don't like change, especially when it affects something near and dear to me, like this newspaper. I especially don't like change when it makes no sense, is irrational, completely out of my control yet impacts me greatly.

So it was with the group email from the executive editor to all columnists. "It's my belief that columns run on the Voices pages of our newspapers should pertain to laser-focused local issues. Whether that is local political issues, business, family, fun or personal issues that readers can relate to, there needs to be a centrally local tie. And while many may certainly argue that the presidential race is locally pertinent, to me that race should be left to the more national publications, unless of course you can make a local tie -- without stretching the point.

I've never attempted to tell any columnist what to write and won't do so here. Write as you wish but there's a very good chance that if the column is about Gov. Romney or President Obama it will not run. That's the chance you take and I wanted to share it with you today."

For so many years through so many editors, I've written freely without limitations. So how did this mature, 10-year veteran columnist react? With a temper tantrum via a barrage of emails.

There was the accusation of the policy limiting this publication to a "community only" newspaper, stifling growth and squelching any opportunity for it to become bigger and better. There was the reminder of a recent column on the topic of national politics that went viral.

Granted, though I have a business degree, I've never worked in marketing but I'd think that a community newspaper being spread around and getting attention of readers as far away as New York would be a good thing. But then again I'm only a columnist. What do I know?

And so after several passion-filled emails were fired off, I pushed on and went beyond. I stewed. And fumed. I wouldn't, couldn't calm down. So I did what any irrational person would do.

Canceling appointments I drove nearly 30 miles to plead my case in person, as in argue with the editor. Now, had it been a co-worker instead of the Star Local News executive editor, and my boss, I would've borrowed one of my brother's sayings and stomped into his office questioning, "What are you, stoned or stupid?"

Though temporarily insane, I wasn't totally crazy! I held my tongue, though I cussed all the way across town, into the parking lot and up to the door of the building.

I was hot. It was apparent. I was spitting flames. Yet I was coy enough to be calm while walking through the newsroom. Acting normal, sane, composed, I smiled, even grinned. I appeared sweet and innocent.

But once inside that conference room, my evil twin appeared. Ugly. I huffed. I puffed, I threatened to...oh heck, I didn't threaten anything. The editor listened to my challenges and objections to his new policy, the first ever column policy.

He countered each of my points with his own. I was getting nowhere. I didn't plan on getting anywhere. I just felt stifled and felt very strongly that the policy is a disservice to readers and writers alike. Still do. Always will. However, this is the executive editor's call. He is the boss. I am a subordinate.

Though it's a policy I vehemently disagree with, I don't get a vote. This isn't a democracy. Majority doesn't rule. The rules are created by the few.

I'm not an employee of this newspaper company though I feel it is part of me. I respect my editor. I've worked for and with him for years. Not once have I disagreed with him. Not once have I had reason, until now.

So from here on out if my column is absent any given week, it might be due to a lack of space -- or it might be that I've gone rogue and this renegade writer has written her mind on something more expansive than allowed.

Patti Pfeiffer is a Star Local News columnist, freelance writer and author. She may be contacted at pattip913@msn.com

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