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It's history, man

In older films we are shown smoky newsrooms, reporters puffing cigarettes in the elevator, and editors and writers (occasionally if not often) drinking on the job. In books (and maybe I've been reading a bit too much Hunter S. Thompson lately) we get images of gruff and jaded journalists, or young journalists on their way to becoming gruff and jaded, who drink and have nicotine addictions.

Now, of course we cannot believe all the stereotypes, but I find that in these health-conscious days absolutely none of that is true. Smoking is prohibited in our building (though at the old building, I swear the elevator still smelled like smoke), and our union has a strict dry-workplace policy.

In talking to older reporters, they lament the old days when everyone went out for a drink after work at the seedy pub down the street. Now, I don't wish my profession to be as depraved as the stereotypes, but if those were the 'good old days' I'm bummed I missed it.
Published Tuesday, April 10, 2007 10:03 PM by ElysseJames
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Comments

# re: It's history, man

Wednesday, April 11, 2007 3:18 PM by GenePark
I too am bummed I missed the old days. I was the only writer on Guam who became the walking incarnation of the mythic chain-smoking, hard-drinking journalist. Fortunately there was another photographer who shared in my habits, so we were our own little press club.

These days, even journalism is touched by the whole "L.A. fitness and beauty" style of living.

I've stopped since moving to Hawaii. But when I was on Guam, I would go to the seediest bars right after work, and finish up my pack of cigarettes. These were small, back-alley bars where the bartenders were missing teeth, the beer is cheap and the karaoke machines were well stocked with Merle Haggard songs. I also often hit the swankier clubs too, whenever I want to ponder how life would be like if I went to law school instead.

I even kept a makeshift minibar in my file cabinets, with Jack, Jim and Johnny all stored away for that one extremely stressful, "the plane has hit the goddamn mountain" day. Those days never came, fortunately.

I've quit smoking, but I can't help but think I would start again if newsrooms allowed smoking indoors.
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