With the Springfield News-Leader’s Editorial Page Editor Tony Messenger leaving for a position with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, I thought I would corner him and pepper him with questions about his time in Springfield and thoughts for the future.
Life of Jason: For those who may have missed the announcement, tell us about your new position.
Tony Messenger: I’ll be working in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch capital bureau as a reporter and columnist covering politics and state government. The job is a great professional challenge for me, moving to a major metro for the first time, the state’s largest newspaper, and allowing me to cover the topic that I’m most interested in and where I’ve done some of my best work. Also, my wife and I get to move into our old home in Columbia, so that’s very exciting.
LOJ: When you came to Springfield did you have goals for yourself and were they met?
TM: I had the same goals I always have when accepting a new job: To be the best journalist I can be; to make my newspaper better; and to improve professionally. I think I did all those things here in Springfield and now I look forward to reaching toward those goals at the Post-Dispatch.
LOJ: What would say was your best experience during your time in Springfield?
TM: Professionally, my best experience was working on the Scott Eckersley/Gov. Matt Blunt story. It was a compelling story that became very important statewide and I’m proud of the journalism. But one of my most memorable experiences in Springfield was the practice session in the KY3 studios leading up to the McCaskill/Talent Senate debate in 2006. The panelists (I was one) and TV crew did a walk through the day before to check all the technical aspects. Part of the walk-through was a fake debate, with Ethan Forhetz playing the role of Talent. We all decided to have a little fun, and instead of asking our real questions (which we competitive journalists didn’t want everybody to know beforehand) we asked trivia questions about the TV sitcom Seinfeld. Well, we all played our roles with flair, and Forhetz answered questions like a pro, acting Senatorial as he explained “the contest.” It was classic and hilarious, until producer Jeff Benscoter scolded us and we had to act like grownups again.
LOJ: What would you say was your worst experience during your time in Springfield?
TM: Suffering through the housing crunch. Our house in Columbia didn’t sell and that was very difficult to deal with. But now it’s a blessing because we’ll be moving into our old house!!!
LOJ: What would you say about the News-Leader’s ability to affect change in Springfield? Do you think the newspaper is still as effective as it was a decade ago?
TM: I think the News-Leader is an incredibly important part of the debate in Springfield. I can’t speak to what it was like a decade ago, but I still think the newspaper definitely has the ability to affect change. It’s probably less than it was previously simply because the staff is smaller, and I think that’s regrettable. But there are some very solid professionals here who do great work every day, and that work matters.
LOJ: What is the letter to the editor that most sticks out in your mind?
TM: The letter former Congressman Mel Hancock agreeing with an editorial I wrote about how term limits have been bad for Missouri. Hancock was one of the people who pushed for term limits, and in a gracious and eloquent letter, he admitted the change has been bad for the state. After the letter ran I called him and he invited me into his home for an interview, and that led to a column. I really enjoyed meeting Mel and his wife. What a class act.
LOJ: What would you say was your best editorial?
TM: I really have no idea. I’ve written more than 600 of them in the past couple of years. Hard to pick one. I’m proud of the series of editorials I wrote about changing the health care system. They weren’t necessarily of the fist-pounding variety, but they were important. I’m proud of the editorials I’ve written about Sunshine Law and the First Amendment.
LOJ: If you could take back any one editorial, what would it be and why?
TM: I don’t think there are any I would take back. One of the ones that was the hardest to write was the endorsement of Jim Talent over Claire McCaskill. Both candidates were very good and they were evenly matched. The editorial is an institutional voice, and there were many debates over which candidate would be the best. We chose Talent. But I will say that McCaskill has proven to be a very good Senator.
LOJ: When people mention the Messenger era at the News-Leader, how would you hope hey remember it?
TM: I hope they remember that I was tough but fair, that I listened to both sides of an argument, that I was respectful. That my work here made a difference. That I pursued truth in a dogged, passionate fashion.
LOJ: Anyone you would like to thank or saying anything to as you’re leaving?
TM: I’d like to thank everybody who made me welcome. Springfield has been very good to me and my family. And I’ve met some wonderful lifelong friends. And most of the people I’ve written about, both positively and negatively, have been very good to work with. It’s a great community with a wonderful future ahead of it.
