JimMacMillan.Net

State Annexation :: Crossword Kathy on today’s NYT puzzle

Jim MacMillan — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:33:36 +0000

How good are you at U.S. geographic trivia? Because this puzzle is predicated on state postal abbreviations, of all things. Luckily, I was the type of nerdy kid who memorized not only the state capitals, but also their two-letter short-hand. Which doesn’t always conform with AP style, by the way.The knowledge served me well today.

READ THE FULL POST: State Annexation :: Crossword Kathy.

Unforgettable Esper

Jim MacMillan — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:09:21 +0000

We learned Friday that legendary Associated Press Vietnam correspondent George Esper had died.

During my year with the AP in Iraq, I heard more than a few times from staffers about the importance of the the company’s “first-in/last-out” legacy for covering global conflict zones, and the example that came up most frequently was Vietnam.

They were talking about Esper, who refused to leave Saigon before covering the fall — even after 10 years of great reporting.

Yesterday, I saw stories emerging from journalists now working across social media about the importance of Esper’s mentoring and generosity in the early stages of their careers. I was another of his many beneficiaries.

While I was working as a young summer replacement staffer for AP photos in Boston in 1986, Esper humbly asked me to make some copy slides for his new book on the history of the Vietnam War.

Soon after, he came back with an autographed copy of his his Eyewitness History of the Vietnam War, which I have since treasured and opened again last night. I had forgotten that his message had attributed much more credit than I deserved, thanking me for a “great Vietnam slide show,” as if I had done much more than simply copy the great works of others.

But that was how he rolled. Esper had earned a world of respect and could never wait to pay it all forward to the next generation.

I often argue that social media journalism has the potential to supplant traditional journalism strategies, but I can’t imagine replacing George Esper by any means.

Read more about George Esper at npr.org.

Poignant Pair of News Alerts

Jim MacMillan — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:57:47 +0000

These came in back to back on my phone last night.

Saturday night in Times Square

Jim MacMillan — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:12:30 +0000

MVI_0245.M4V Watch on Posterous

We spotted this break dance show while passing through Times Square Saturday night and so I shot a little video with my new Canon S100. ©2012 by Jim MacMillan: jim@jimmacmillan.com • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Google+ • Linkedin • Skype • AOL IM • Mobile 215.882.4765 • SMS

Space available: Times Square

Jim MacMillan — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 03:58:23 +0000

Here’s a peek inside 229 West 43rd; the former New York Times building.