A seasonal salute from Larry Ragan

Editor’s note: Larry Ragan wrote this column 30 years ago as his annual holiday salute to readers of The Ragan Report. A few changes here and there, and this column could have been written yesterday. What does that say about our industry? You tell us.

Once again we greet you with our annual message: To all a happy holiday and a new year of higher budgets, fewer typos, and an understanding management. With teary sentiments of cheer we salute ….

Editors whose Christmas greetings arrive before Christmas. Writers of news releases—may their words be read and, even better, believed.

Compilers of annual reports: May their pictures be ever larger, their color brighter, and their prose even funnier than last year’s. Public information people who write Christmas messages every year for the top executive in their organization: They have suffered the platitude.

Editors who must edit stories written by school district superintendents: They also serve.

Editors who have the guts to use an ungrammatical “they” to avoid a “he.” They shall be forgiven.

Editors who refuse to listen to what they hear at conferences: They proudly display pictures of Joe and his fish. They shall be punished.