This is, by far, my least favorite column of the year to write. Here’s why.
My editor will always remind me that this week’s column is due early since we have an early deadline because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Then I always wonder how many of you will actually spend the time reading it on Thanksgiving, Black Friday or in the shopping frenzy that takes place the following week. So to me there’s the worry of wasting pearls of wisdom.
But for those of you who are loyal readers … This is for you. It’s my Thanksgiving column, a column of thanks to my readers.
This column came about from my experience as a pioneering publisher in a new niche publication that we called LGBT media. When PGN started, our community didn’t know what to think of the publication or its publisher. My goal was to just write my opinions and allow the readers the opportunity to know what I stood for and if they desired to disagree, they could write letters to the editor or even op-ed pieces.
To this day, that is one of my proudest decisions as a publisher, since I believe we have grown a community together through our dialogue. You as a reader deserved to know where we stood and join the debate. You held us to that ideal and, as publisher, I can assure you that it has enriched not only me, but all those who work at PGN. It has made us more accountable and more professional.
Because if we are not, you’ll tell us.
Many weeks after PGN hits the streets, long after all have left the office, a man will call with what he believes are spelling or other mistakes in this week’s issue. We don’t know who he is, but his message is clear: I want you to be better. And for him and all our readers, we try every week.
Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s most-award-winning commentator in LGBT media. He can be reached at [email protected].