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After leaving the city for two years to work at USA TODAY, Ron Smith has returned to help lead the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. “We want to tell stories about communities that have long been overlooked but have much to say and step up our watchdog reporting.” (Photo by Wes Tank)
NNS editor Ron Smith
Her name was Ann Christine Heintz — Sister Ann if she needed a favor.
And she did not suffer fools.
On this day, she was showing no love to my 16-year-old self.
“What is this crap?” she asked, glaring at me with disbelief and not trying to mask her indignation.
I had committed a mortal sin as a young reporter for New Expression, then a citywide teen publication written by and for Chicago youth that reached 120,000 readers monthly.
Ann wanted me to write a story about Chicago Public School teachers going on strike. Instead, I gave her a fawning story about Mayor Harold Washington, the city’s first black mayor.
“Why would you ask him how it feels to be the first black mayor? He’s been in office for two years.”
She rolled her eyes. I slunk further in my chair across from her, hoping to escape more of her vitriol as everyone in the newsroom listened.
Ann expected the best from her young charges, and diplomacy was not one of the tools she favored. She was direct. To a fault. She did not care about your feelings. She only cared about the readers.
Still, I was not prepared for what would happen next.
She ordered me to find the mayor and get her questions answered.
I, however, took the train home from her downtown office and never came back.
At least for a day.
Ann hounded me, even enlisting my mother in forcing me to complete the assignment. I, in turn, bugged the mayor’s office, leaving close to a dozen messages from my high school’s guidance counselor’s office. I left message after message after message to seemingly no avail.
Until one Friday night, the mayor called me back. I got the story, and I also learned a valuable lesson: Persistence pays.
If I could get the mayor to return a call from a teenager who had never even ventured downtown by himself before that assignment, then there was nothing I couldn’t do if I set my mind to it.
A journalist was born.
And that journalist still exists today.
I’ve had the honor of working in some of the nation’s best newsrooms: USA TODAY; my beloved Journal Sentinel, where I served as deputy managing editor; The Oregonian in Portland; Newsday; and the Los Angeles Times.
Along the way, I’ve edited several Pulitzer Prizes. But nothing gives me more satisfaction than to be able to lead the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. I care much about this city, and I believe in the power of the press not only to inform but to transform.
The key word in our name is “service.” We exist to serve communities that often get overlooked – until something bad happens.
My goal for NNS is to celebrate and to illuminate. We want to be a place of positivity, where everybody is somebody, where everyone gets her story told. We will chronicle the many good things that are happening.
At the same time, expect us to become more hard-hitting. We will become an aggressive watchdog and write about issues that are important to you.
We need your help. Engage with us. This is YOUR news service.
I believe there is nothing we can’t do if we set our minds to it.
And I plan to proceed until apprehended.
Watch us soar.
transform, “service.”, to celebrate and to illuminate, hard-hitting, Watch us soar.
That’s an exciting menu and I look forward to going with you.
Thank you for your encouragement.
–Ronshine
Congratulations, Mr. Smith! The Milwaukee community needs your leadership to continue the NNS mission to democratize citizen participation. I trust that the voices of the many will help us across every part of the city to cooperate in being a counter-vailing force to interests that tend to exclude too many ‘unheard voices.’
Thank you. We also need readers such as yourself to suggest stories and give us feedback so that we continue to improve.
–Ron
Welcome back to Milwaukee — and welcome to the helm of the city’s single most necessary news organization. Necessary because it spotlights segments of the community too long under-covered. Necessary because it nurtures a new generation of journalists who are committed to the profession’s highest calling: telling the stories of all segments of our society, and telling the full stories as truthfully as possible. Your predecessor set a high standard for this news organization, and you have a great crew working for you (a couple of whom I have had the privilege of working with as students of mine at UWM). You and I haven’t yet yet, but everything I know about you tells me you are exactly who is needed to continue to spearhead this project. Congratulations.
Thank you so much Erik. I have followed your career and appreciate your support.
–Ron
The news of your appointment as NNS editor is exciting for magnifying the voices of the peoples in Milwaukee. Most hearty congratulations! I recall meeting you during your studies in the College of Professional Studies at MU and during your participation in the Project for Community Transformation.
Margaret Wheatley has been the primary champion of the mantra “Proceed until apprehended.” When she spoke at one of the meetings of the Project for Community Transformation, she shared that she learned the mantra from a colleague, was deeply moved by its relevance to her thinking and work, and has been sharing it with her audiences ever since.
Margaret said that to her the mantra means these four steps:
1. When you get up each day, be mindful and focused on what you are called to do.
2. Visit or in some other ways communicate with people who might be interested in what you are called to do. Invite suggestions, and do not be disturbed if someone with whom you confided your ideas is not especially excited or supportive. (Don’t worry about crossing your ts and dotting your Is on some written proposals just yet. Just start by interacting with thinkers and doers)
3. Follow the Yeses. Visit, email, or make phone calls to people recommended by persons you contacted in step 2.
4. Reflect and act on what you are learning thus far.
Repeat the four steps as a regular component of your work. Proceed until apprehended . . .
Bob, as always, you are most thoughtful. Thank you for sharing this.
Ron
Go for it!
Sharon, thank you for leaving such a rich legacy and a team that is determined to keep the vision alive.
Ron
Wonderful. Do great things.
Sharon, thank you for leaving such a rich legacy and a team that is determined to keep the vision alive.
Ron
I think you will do fine and serve people and write about things that would not otherwise heard about. That is what I hope for from this news service,
Thank you so much. This team works hard and I can’t wait to see what they do. Keep reading and supporting.
Ron
Welcome back ~ We are excited to have you heading up NNS!
Thank you so much! I am glad to be back and I am glad to lead a team that is so committed to making a difference in Milwaukee.
Ron
Welcome to NNS.
I don’t think I’ve ever met you, but I’ve heard a lot of good things about you and looking forward to hearing more from you. I enjoyed your opening missive. All the best to you in the months and years ahead.
Let’s remedy that. Thank you for your kind words.
Ron
Would you please cover stories about Native Americans? Milwaukee was originally a Native American village and Native Americans have been in Milwaukee for thousand years. There is a thriving Native American community in Milwaukee yet Milwaukeenns completely ignored the Native Americans. I never saw any articles about Native Americans.
This must change!
Wenona Gardner
Native American
Mohican Tribe
Yes. Yes. Yes. You are absolutely right, and thank you for calling us out on this. We will do better. I would love it if you emailed me at ronald.smith@marquette.edu so we can discuss this in detail. Thank you for speaking out.
Ron
I’m elated to know the NNS is in your capable hands! It’s rewarding to see how the NNS has grown over the last 8 years, and to witness its increasing influence in the city. It’s so important to tell the complex stories of our neighborhoods, and to expand the narrative about our city and the people who live here. Onward and upward!
How kind of you. We are all committed to making NNS grow and are spending a lot of time discussing and reviewing what we do, how we can do it better and how to take the project to new heights. Onward, upward and forward we go! Thank you so much for your support. It means a lot to me and to the team.
Ron
I can’t think of a better person and truth teller to lead this important community resource. Congrats Ron, and best wishes for your continued success!
Hi Jill! Thanks for the well-wishes. And I will be coming your way for advice :)