During his Corpus Christi newspaper career, the recently deceased Brooks Peterson wrote on just about every subject that touched public life, some of great importance and some of the things that just make life interesting. He did it with grace, wit, and empathy for the people he wrote about. In other words, he possessed the best qualities of an editor.
A former editorialist for this newspaper said that writing editorials for newspapers is like writing on the sand of a beach; words are washed away with every wave. Perhaps. But Brooks, my colleague and friend, wrote with conviction and insight, which he felt was vital to the newspaper’s readers. He did this job for most of the more than 30 years he spent with the paper.
There are fewer and fewer local newspapers with an editorial voice. This is a small part of the print newspaper retreat. Major metros still write editorials about presidents and the latest dramas of the day in Congress. But where is the local newsroom worried about the Corpus Christi Christmas oil spill, the creation of a new city council, or the disappearance of the black historic district? Brooks could write about it.
The argument for removing editorials is that readers don’t want anyone to tell them what to think editorials are too divisive and too biased. If readers are more likely to read newspapers without editorials, by all means discard them. But it doesn’t seem to be happening. However, the neighbors give us their opinion, the opinions come from the pulpit and the bar stool next door, and the same goes for every email and seasonal campaign ad. Perhaps the most resisted are newspaper editorials because they threaten our comfort zone the most.
Brooks wrote on many topics, but mostly about Corpus Christi, a place he called “Korpitos” in his columns. It was the name of affection and yet occasional anxiety. He wrote with humor, love and knowledge of the city where he raised a family and made a career. His departure makes us all a little poorer.
Nick Jimenez has been a reporter, city editor, and editorial page editor for over 40 years in Corpus Christi, and holds the title of Editorial Page Editor Emeritus for the Caller-Times.
