Brock Marchant and Charles McCollum
Recorded
May 17, 2023
Archived
May 17, 2023
38:19 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
mby022725
Description
Brock Marchant (23) interviews his friend and mentor Charles "Charlie" McCollum (68) about his work at small town newspapers and how the field has changed over the course of his career.Subject Log / Time Code
Charlie (C) recalls when he first started working at The Herald Journal, the local newspaper in Logan, Utah.
C says he faced a lot of suspicion being an outsider to Cache County. C recalls challenges the newspaper faced with the predominantly Mormon community.
C describes how he got used to the community and how the community got used to him.
C and Brock (B) discuss how small-town newspapers have changed throughout C's career.
C describes how the 2009 recession affected The Herald and how the community supported the local newspaper.
C and B discuss the watchdog role of a local newspaper. C says he hopes local papers will reinstate investigative branches.
C explains how the anti-media attitude in society has led to fewer and fewer people wanting to pursue a career in newspapers.
B discusses why he decided to pursue a career in local reporting and says he is hopeful.
B reflects on the value of storytelling.
C highlights the difficulties that arise as you become closer to the community you report on. C talks about The Herald's decision to report on the prosecution of child sexual abuse in the community.
C and B speak about the increase of large corporate chain stores and restaurants in Logan.
C reflects on his retirement from the local papers. He says it feels like being a ghost.
C and B share closing thoughts.
Participants
- Brock Marchant
- Charles McCollum