An editor for the Spokesman Review told NIC’s Mass Media students Sept. 21 how the field of journalism has changed over the years.
Rich Landers, outdoors editor for the Spokesman, said he has been in his current job for 35 years and the job has changed as much as it could during that time.
“Our founding fathers made sure everyone got the news,” he said. “People enjoyed two sides to the story initially, but it has changed quite a bit in the past 15 years. News today is found on different platforms.”
He explained that the Internet is full of thieves who constantly steal stories from the Spokesman, so sometimes he will freelance them out.
“It doesn’t matter how much readership there is – I don’t make a cent off it,” he said.
He started out as a University of Montana journalism student and wildlife biologist and said he basically “carved his job” along the way. Landers said the Philadelphia Inquirer once offered him twice the money for a job with them, but he turned them down.
“When I get up in the morning, it’s my lifestyle to look into the outdoors,” he said. “I have my own kingdom that I report from.”
He said he has done lots of research while working with the paper and has had trips as far away as Alaska, paid for by a wildlife magazine he writes for on the side.
“I don’t fly unless I have to,” he said. “It’s dangerous. I take my own pictures and try to always make my writing style different.”
When the Exxon Valdez and the Yellowstone fires were primetime news, Landers said everybody knew he would “camp out to get the story.”
“Careers are like that; you follow what stage you’re at,” he said.
He fondly recalled a time early on in his career when he spent the night drinking moonshine with trappers. More recently, he followed a young wrangler woman who squared off with a grizzly bear to save a boy’s life. He also led groups across the states in the ‘70s during the bike Centennial race.
But the highlight of his career, he said, was a decade ago when he took Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor fishing. In fact, it was the same day her replacement was announced for her position.
“I never had so much reaction from women,” he said regarding that story.
In addition to his many quests, he has also authored the books “Hiking the Northwest” and “Paddling Washington.”
“One thing I’m successful at is enjoying my job,” he said. “It’s a challenge to meet people and learn new things.”
