Writing With Power

By Cameron Ross

The power of influence is what separates columnists from other types of journalists. Writing as an autonomist gives Mike Fitzgerald the ability to spread his voice to the masses.
As a metro columnist his stories can include different beats. The ideas come from several sources that monitor local issues such as Internet feeds or even word through conversations.
He writes his stories by a process called Column Development. The process includes three steps: pick a subject, research and write well. His philosophy is that complete writing comes from complete effort.
“I would prefer to instill you with a strong aversion to doing any piece of writing halfway," says Fitzgerald.
“Don’t take the first idea.”
Fitzgerald also does extensive and elaborate thinking about several topics before he chooses one. An example of a columnist’s writing power is Fitzgerald’s recent column examining the poverty of his hometown and the suggestion of a local university as a solution. Reactions to his column were very supportive and the city is now considering discussing the idea of a state university.
“It’s enriching,” he says.
Fitzgerald was raised in Stockton and is naturally familiar with the city. His first experience in journalism occurred while he was in grammar school. It was a column called: Loser of the Month, which appeared in the Annunciation Grammar School newspaper.
After working for the Kettle, St. Mary’s High School newspaper, he attended California State University Fresno where he worked for the Daily Collegian, a student operated newspaper.
He won the Valley Short Story Writer’s Competition in 1985 and began at the Stockton Record in 1986. Before he became a columnist he wrote about arts and entertainment, wrote as a general assignment reporter and also a police reporter. He was offered a column around 1991 and has never looked back.
“It’s worth at least $10 thousand a year to enjoy what I do. Overall the job’s a blessing,” Fitzgerald says.
Column writing requires lots of creativity.
“It really only works if your have a reporter who can develop his own ideas.”
When writing to prove a point, bias is imminent and some readers’ reactions can be extreme. Fitzgerald receivers the both types of responses and welcomes them with eagerness.
The reactions include cynicism and hypocrisy. Negative messages sent to Fitzgerald help him maintain broad vision.
“I’ve learned to convert most of them to civil discourse.”
Positive reactions often help Fitzgerald develop new ideas. In fact, between his deadlines he talks with readers occasionally to consider possible leads. Like all columnists, Fitzgerald has a favorite reaction from his readers.
“I enjoy an intelligent reader who digests what I write.”
One dimension that is vital to a columnist is divergent thinking. With the possibility of writing about any random topic these journalists must stay open-minded.
“I try to read as broadly as possible.”
By researching from one end of the spectrum to the other he can observe all the angles of whatever issue he’s studying.
Fitzgerald writes with passion in an effort to keep the community informed and aware of the issues facing them that may be concealed in some way. By keeping political figures honest with critical questions and discussions, they must produce results or else the public will witness them neglecting important issues.
Honest and ambitious, he produces results because writes with a purpose. The open mind he keeps allows all of his work to be constructive and the product of his work is the progress in the community.
Fitzgerald is definitely qualified to write a column in a larger market with all of his experience and accomplishments but he is happy with his job and feels that he could do it for the rest of his career.
Perhaps the ultimate achievement of a columnist is the satisfaction of making a difference for the good of the people who read their work.
“It’s humbling.”