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Name: Michael Freeze
Newspaper you work for:The Independent (Massillon, Ohio)
What do you do? I am the news editor.
Tell us a little about your career:After serving in the Navy, I attended the University of Akron where I became editor of the school's newspaper, The Buchtelite. In the real world, I started out as a graphics designer just to get my foot in the door of the newspaper business. Then, I made my living as a magazine editor; even did some communications work for the financial industry. Now, I'm back "home" to newspaper land.
I should have known better: After a late night at The Buchtelite, I was on my way to deliver the hard copy grids of the paper to the printer in Massillon. Since I drove a truck, I thought it was a good idea to place the grids in the back bed. The moment I went onto the freeway, I noticed through my rearview mirror that grid pages of the paper were blowing carelessly into the wind. Since it was pitch dark in the middle of nowhere on the freeway, I was unable to retrieve all the pages. I spent the rest of my midnight hours back at the newsroom reconstructing the entire issue.
What do you do in your job? As news editor, I do a little bit of everything. That's what makes it exciting. Depending on the day, I could be writing, proofing, project planning or designing a page. The variety of what I report is what's special, as well. It's like being a student, then becoming a teacher in the span of a day. One moment, I'll write an overview of a city land dispute, and the next, I'll pen a profile of an Elvis impersonator.
What's your biggest mistake on the job? In my lifetime, I've made too many mistakes to give one of them any fair amount of recognition. But honestly, the ones I remember the most were the ones that I took no action on. It was that question that I failed to ask someone, or the stand I failed to take. Learning from those mistakes has made me a better professional.
Hardest lesson you've had to learn? If there is something you desire to do, do it. Life is too short to compromise your goals. Everything you do in this world comes down to persistence and hard work. The only way you coast is downhill and shortcuts will only cut you short.
Name: Michael Freeze
Newspaper you work for:The Independent (Massillon, Ohio)
What do you do? I am the news editor.
Tell us a little about your career:After serving in the Navy, I attended the University of Akron where I became editor of the school's newspaper, The Buchtelite. In the real world, I started out as a graphics designer just to get my foot in the door of the newspaper business. Then, I made my living as a magazine editor; even did some communications work for the financial industry. Now, I'm back "home" to newspaper land.
I should have known better: After a late night at The Buchtelite, I was on my way to deliver the hard copy grids of the paper to the printer in Massillon. Since I drove a truck, I thought it was a good idea to place the grids in the back bed. The moment I went onto the freeway, I noticed through my rearview mirror that grid pages of the paper were blowing carelessly into the wind. Since it was pitch dark in the middle of nowhere on the freeway, I was unable to retrieve all the pages. I spent the rest of my midnight hours back at the newsroom reconstructing the entire issue.
What do you do in your job? As news editor, I do a little bit of everything. That's what makes it exciting. Depending on the day, I could be writing, proofing, project planning or designing a page. The variety of what I report is what's special, as well. It's like being a student, then becoming a teacher in the span of a day. One moment, I'll write an overview of a city land dispute, and the next, I'll pen a profile of an Elvis impersonator.
What's your biggest mistake on the job? In my lifetime, I've made too many mistakes to give one of them any fair amount of recognition. But honestly, the ones I remember the most were the ones that I took no action on. It was that question that I failed to ask someone, or the stand I failed to take. Learning from those mistakes has made me a better professional.
Hardest lesson you've had to learn? If there is something you desire to do, do it. Life is too short to compromise your goals. Everything you do in this world comes down to persistence and hard work. The only way you coast is downhill and shortcuts will only cut you short.
Proudest accomplishments?That's an easy one; serving my country in the United States Navy. The military literally saved my life. Not only did it give me the tools that enabled me to accomplish everything in my professional career, it gave me the chance to travel the far corners of the world and meet very interesting people.
What's life like beyond the newspaper?When I'm not pushing pages into production, I serve as a de facto assistant to my lovely wife, Candy who happens to be a hard-working realtor in the Stark County area. We just recently celebrated our 5th year wedding anniversary. We have no kids, but our oodles of nieces and nephews keep us plenty busy. Aside from that, I spend my time reading, writing and exercising out like a madman.
