Been fun getting to know Ben and 'pet' Joey

AMARILLO — One of the particularly neat things about my job is the chance to talk with people about journalism and the newspaper industry as a whole.

The conversations always go in different directions and the topics cover the gamut. It's fun, invigorating and sometimes even refreshing to hear folks' views about today's newspapers from people young and old, male or female, affluent or poor.

This weekend I've had the opportunity to spend a few days in Amarillo at the 107th Panhandle Press Association Convention. Here, a multitude of ideas are shared and exchanged. Some range from coverage philosophies and models to ways to monetize certain aspects of our business.

It was at the PPA event where I got the chance to meet Ben Estlack.

Ben writes a regular column for the Clarendon Enterprise, a weekly newspaper in the town of about 2,000 people that lies 60 miles southeast of Amarillo. Ben's father, Roger, is the editor and publisher of the paper.

By the way, Ben is 10. Yes, as in a kid who rubs shoulders with his fourth-grade classmates on a daily basis. Even more remarkable, Ben has been writing a column for five years now.

His first story — at age 5 — wasn't exactly planned as an “assignment.” He was in the backseat of his family's car when they saw a medical helicopter land at the site of an accident. His mom recalls that he was taking notes about what was happening at the scene, what the rescue workers were wearing and things along those lines.

That translated into his first newspaper byline. As they say, the rest is history. He now writes a pretty regular column for the weekly paper in his hometown.

“I think it's amazing because I get to express my personal opinion about what I like and like to do,” Ben told me. “I've written about building a treehouse, a summer vacation in California and what I went through as I get older and am able to do more things.”

He said he hopes to work in newspapers as a professional when he gets older. After all, it's been a part of his family for a while.

Even his sister, 8-year-old Elaina, is part of the newspaper team from time to time. She takes photos.

“I really like taking photos of things no one has ever seen and can't really visualize,” said Elaina, a second-grader. “All of the family tries to pitch in and help. It helps make the community better.”

Ben and I have had our laughs over the course of the three-day conference. Full disclosure: He missed the morning and afternoon sessions on Friday. He had school and it was class picture day.

On Thursday evening during a tour of the closed-but-famous Herring Hotel, he and I came across a large, dead pigeon. I joked that he should take him home as a pet. We, of course, left him behind, but we affectionately dubbed him “Joey.”

Joey's name has popped up a few times since as the butt of a few jokes. I told Ben he should write his next column about him.

Sorry, Ben. I beat ya to the punch. Joey made it into my column first.

Rob Langrell is the publisher of The Eastern New Mexico News. Contact him at: [email protected]