Faces of Diversity: Seth Prince

10.02.01

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Seth Prince

One in an occasional series of interviews profiling Chips Quinn alums who now work in newspaper newsrooms. Seth Prince, copy editor for The Oregonian in Portland, was a 1999 Chips Quinn Scholar.

Q: How did you hear about the Chips Quinn program?

A: From Jack Willis, the adviser of my college newspaper, The Oklahoma Daily, at the University of Oklahoma. Jack is a former Gannett editor. His knowledge of The Freedom Forum, the people associated with it and his general voice of reason helped me make the decision to eventually apply. I didn't think I'd have a shot at getting in and almost didn't apply. In fact, at Jack's urging, I called Karen Catone, the Chips Quinn Scholar director, several days after the deadline to see if it would still be OK to send my application. Thankfully, it was, and I was accepted. I still owe Jack and Karen for their patience early on.

Q: What did your Chips Quinn internship teach you about the office culture in journalism and reporting?

A: My internship at The Wichita (Kan.) Eagle was my first experience in a big-time newsroom. Before going to The Eagle, I'd only worked at my campus newspaper.

I learned a lot in Wichita. First and foremost, I learned that I really could edit for a living. That in itself was a tremendous confidence booster. I also learned the importance of adapting — both in where you work and how you work. Moving from Oklahoma, my home of 20-plus years, to Kansas and later to Oregon, for example. I learned that a key to editing is knowing when you have the luxury of spending some real time with a story, when to slam it through to hit deadline and some of the tricks to still do a thoughtful job to meet a deadline.

I learned the importance of respecting what reporters do and of expecting them to have the same level of respect for what copy editors do. I learned I could move anywhere and make friends and feel relatively at home. I learned about professional frustrations — and how to deal with them.

Q: How and when did you become interested in journalism?

A: I have always enjoyed working with words. In middle school and high school, English and literature classes were among my favorites. But I also loved science. I wanted to be a doctor, and went to college with that intention. Chemistry, however, eventually drove me away. All along in college, I'd read the campus newspaper and was amazed by it. I thought it'd be great to be a part of that. I just didn't think I could do it or make a career out of it.

Eventually, I changed my major to journalism. A friend of the family worked in the journalism school and helped me feel at home when I made the shift. I jumped into the campus newspaper. It fit. I started as a reporter, but went to the night desk when one semester's schedule required me to be in class during prime reporting time. I wanted to stay at the newspaper but didn't know how or where. Jack and the editor at the time suggested I try the night desk. I did. It fit better. I've been doing this since.

Q: What has being part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team taught you about journalism?

A: Among other things, the importance of great discipline, high standards, unwavering dedication to the project and patience, patience, patience. And that everything in this business — from obits to Pulitzers — is a team effort. We won our Pulitzer Prize for our coverage of the Immigration and Naturalization Services in the United States. The article is titled “Liberty’s Heavy Hand.”

To me, it is an amazing stroke of luck that I'm part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team. I was 23 at the time. I was six months out of college. Stuff like that isn't supposed to happen when you're 23 and six months out of college. You're supposed to be at least in your 50s, seasoned with years of experience, the wise old man of the newsroom who has seen and edited or covered it all.

It was a privilege to work with those four reporters and the project editor. They are, undoubtedly, some of the best people in journalism. It was a great compliment to be asked to edit stories of such importance — regardless of whether the body of work won a Pulitzer in the end. And, after it did win, it was another honor to be part of something so highly respected by our industry and by the public.

When the announcement was made, it was gut-wrenching and exhilarating and draining. It was a blur of tears, smiles, hugs and children bouncing between their parents. It was kind words, popping corks and quickly a loud celebration and later quiet moments with phone calls home.

Again, I can't stress enough how fortunate I was to be asked to be the project's copy editor. My boss could have asked any copy editor to work it, and any one of us would have done a fine job. I was very lucky to be the one he asked.

Q: How do you think ethnicity has helped or hindered you as a journalist?

A: It has helped more so over time as I have matured as a journalist. Early in my career, while still in college and before becoming a Chipster, it wasn't something I always, or even often, thought about. Post-Chips, however, my ethnicity and its importance was always somewhere in my mind. As a copy editor, it helps in many ways. Copy desks until not so long ago were in many places a haven for old, white, male journalists. That is still changing and our newspapers are better for it. The addition of diverse perspectives, such as mine as a Native American and as a young adult, helps make us more representative. And that is crucial.

I'm Choctaw and Cherokee. As a copy editor, my background has made me feel a sense of responsibility about getting those stories into the paper when I can, making sure they are as accurate and representative as possible.

Maybe this is corny, but it's sort of like the set of mirrors on a car. Every driver has his blind spots. The more of us helping the driver see all of the road and the surroundings, the less likely the driver is to run over someone he might not otherwise see.

Q: Do you think diversity is an important issue for the newspaper industry?

A: Vastly important. We have to be representative of the areas we cover — regardless of whether some of those populations read us. That means we must be diverse in many ways.

Q: Do you think that Native American news is neglected in U.S. newspapers?

A: Yes. And it probably always will be, but we're working on it.

Q: What do you think is your greatest accomplishment thus far?

A: Working to establish myself as a trusted, hard-working, competent journalist who respects and is respected by his colleagues.

Q: As a Pulitzer winner, what is the first thing you would advise a young journalist?

A: Always work hard, be professional and strive to earn the trust and respect of your readers and colleagues.

Related

Faces of Diversity
Interviews with former Chips Quinn Scholars now working in newspaper newsrooms.  10.24.01