Diversity Diaries: James L. Gray
By James L. Gray, CAE
Former executive director, Society of Professional Journalists/Sigma Delta Chi Foundation
10.05.01
I landed my first job in journalism in the late '60s. I worked in a classic, old-fashioned newsroom at a large metropolitan daily newspaper. The place looked the same in 1969 as it had in 1939 — candlestick telephones, pneumatic tubes, hot-lead type — and copy boys.
When an editor needed something — anything — he (she could write only for the Society page) would yell, "Boy!"
This went against my personal sensibilities — after all, it was the '60s. I had spent plenty of time on my college campus marching for civil-rights causes and protesting social injustices. And, oh yes, all of the copy boys happened to be black.
I approached the city editor and asked if it were possible to have the editors call, "Copy Boy" instead of "Boy!" As an alternative, I suggested that they be summoned by name.
"Maybe when these old-timers retire or die off," he said to me.
I switched to the night side where we did our own fetching.