“It's just kinda weird … it's a slow week in terms of news, after last week's hot week … it's kind of like stories are breathing in, and breathing out … there's a rhythm to it.”
16-year-old Tom Stepforth was talking with senior editor Nathan Turner of the Lofton County Free Voice.
“Be thankful for that – young reporters and their editors need time to hone their craft,” Mr. Turner said with a smile. Let's take today and look back through your last five stories to see how your writing and research skills have improved, and then we might have time to get over to the distribution side so you can get into that – if you need some more derring-do in your life!
“Look, I'm down for anything and everything!” Tom said.
“Which is why we use slow news days and weeks and tend to employ young people like you, so that should something happen to any one person, the Free Voice keeps going.”
“Yep, that's important,” Tom said. “I'm still trying to understand why folks lost their minds and tried to kill you and Mr. Varick and the rest in the first month, and I understand why we gotta be ready for everything.”
“You are too young, and too kindhearted, Tom, to get the first part,” Mr. Turner said. “But it is sufficient that you get the second part, and I pray you never understand the hate of people who would kill other people for speaking the truth. Just keep speaking and writing and getting it out – that's the job.”
“It's a big job,” Tom said, “and I'm here for it!”
“And doing a great job,” Mr. Turner said. “Let's review your stories with your editor, and then I'll show you the secrets of our 'everywhere and nowhere' physical distribution – and you know we're moving the online front-end to Hive, too.”
“Would love to see them try to hack and take THAT down!” Tom said.
“Heck, the learning curve is steep enough so that it's too much trouble to even try to do what can't be done,” Mr. Turner said.
“You know, my brother Vertran is a master of Hive and probably could do a training – you just need to get in contact with his business manager, also my dad,” Tom said.
“We got the idea from him,” Mr. Turner said with a laugh. “I see why you are as good as you are in what you do, Tom – staying ahead of a little brother like that is a task!”
“Look, Vertran keeps the whole family honest!” Tom said. “That nine-year-old is coming for everything – we gotta get this county right and ready for both us and him!”