Happy Thanksgiving to all the journalists out there, & especially to the wonderful mentors like @cltomlinson, who is mentioned here "quietly taking charge."

I would not be the reporter I am w/o his guidance.

Here's a Thanksgiving wish for more like him https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/grateful-for-our-lives-thanksgiving-in-afghanistan-2001/2019/11/25/4702b2b2-0f74-11ea-924c-b34d09bbc948_story.html

This is not just me being all mushy and drunk on the holiday (haven't actually been drinking! have work to do!).

Mentors are so important in journalism, especially when resources are stretched thin at papers these days.

But mentoring younger reporters in a meaningful way takes time, and it's often behind-the-scenes. It's not always something the people in charge are aware of, so some of the people who really help reporters grow go unthanked for their efforts.

Journalism can be a very competitive field, with reporters vying for space, sources and scoops. So the people willing to step away from that and just be kind enough to help can have an outsize impact that's not recognized.

I've been so lucky to have a number of those people in my life: @FLCNReporter @pamelacolloff @rshields37 @ReuvenBlau @jenradcliffe and, as mentioned, Chris.

I try to thank them often, but it's never enough: I would likely not still be in journalism w/o their guidance.

With Chris, I actually ignored him for the entire first year we worked together because he wrote a column I thought was an awful take and I am a bitch so I pretended he did not exist for an entire year even though we worked in the same room.

Then @stjbs suggested him come ask me about gangs and we started talking and got drinks and I realized he had this amazing, vast reporting experience I had just never bothered to learn about. I was fascinated, and had a million questions.

We had both seen some dark things - very different things, but still awful things we could talk about. We talked about how to report on these things, and how to live with that. And in the process we became friends.

I think sometimes when we hang out it probably strikes people as an unlikely combo - him in a suit or whatever fancy shit and me in a Hail Gay Satan tank and gym clothes.

But for the past year or two (how long has it been?) I have talked through so many of my stories with him, discussing angles and reporting and sources - and perhaps more importantly, he walked me through the whole process of a book proposal.

That's a huge deal - them shits are looooong. He read and re-read and offered feedback and thoughtful input that must have taken hours and hours.

He has listened to many an unhappy rant, given career and personal advice and kept me encouraged and reminded me why I still do this, and why I don't quit.

(Sorry Chris, now there are probs a # of public officials quietly cursing you.)

I wish that every growing journalist could have someone like Chris but until he learns to clone himself I will have to settle for just saying how grateful I am for his guidance behind the scenes.

Journalists, think about your mentors today and thank them. We need people like them to keep this profession alive, and to keep shining a light in dark places and telling stories that would otherwise be untold.