Writing for publication has been an adventure

Time flies when you’re having fun – so they say. That old saying has proven true for me in the nearly 15 years – that’s 672 columns – I have been a political columnist for The Forum. When I joined the publication in 1999, I quickly learned The Forum was not just a random group of people writing about their areas of expertise, it was a family. That’s how Jay Covington and Hugh Johnson, the owners, run things, and their philosophy has paid off big time.

When I moved to Shreveport in 1993 after 27 years on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., I became a fast fan of The Forum. At the time, Chuck Fellers was the political writer, and he was doing some cutting-edge reporting. I needed to meet this guy, I thought, so I sought him out at a reception for John Hussey, who was running for mayor. Though Chuck and I had different political views, we became good friends, and that valued friendship exists to this day.

After serving as executive assistant to Shreveport Mayor Bo Williams, I was offered the opportunity to write for The Forum. I jumped at the opportunity, and the rest is history, as they say. Over the years, I have been praised, cursed, told I was being sued and even had my life threatened because of what were, I suppose, controversial and unflattering columns to some. And, along the way, I was honored with two “Best Column” awards by the Louisiana Press Association. Through it all, Covington and Johnson – and The Forum family – stood by my side.

I know some of my columns caused a lot of grief for them with retaliation in the form of canceling advertising and other ways, including Covington and Johnson having their lives threatened as well. No matter. Just keep doing what you’re doing, they said. And we did, and our readership blossomed.

Forum’s popularity did not go unnoticed. I was offered a position by an editor with another local publication. I had one important question for him: “Will my columns ever be censored?” He replied that they always reserved the right to do so. That fact ended our discussion. But the reality was that I never intended to leave The Forum and never will as long as they will have me. And there was the time I was offered a six-figure salary by a disgruntled elected official, which I, of course, turned down. Not once has Covington or Johnson advised me that the content of my columns was detrimental to the publication. In other words, they always put principle before pro t. How rare is that in this day and age of publishing?

You see, after 47 years in the political arena – 29 of them working for elected officials and 18 years on the other side of the street as a political writer – I have no personal agenda. And, at this stage in my life, I have no qualms about stepping on important toes. My main mission with The Forum is to educate, enlighten and make people think, hoping they will get involved in the political process. Far too many people, these days, seem to have no interest in how their government officials are spending their tax dollars – and they don’t vote.

Along with fellow political writers Marty Carlson and Louis Avallone, who contribute greatly to The Forum’s political coverage, readers are provided with different opinions and information about politics and philosophy. That’s how it should be. And, hopefully, our readers absorb these opinions and are able to make intelligent decisions about where they stand on issues.

While I tend to dwell on the political side of things, let’s not forget the rest of the family at The Forum, which provides useful information on a variety of topics. There is something for everyone in the publication, regardless of your interests. And it is all quality and useful information to help with your daily travails and lifestyle.

I would be remiss if I didn’t thank all of you who read my column each issue. And I want you to know that I particularly appreciate feedback, whether it is positive or negative. I am not thin-skinned when it comes to criticism. As you would expect, having been involved in politics for nearly five decades, my skin is pretty thick. All I ask is that you express your opinions in a civil manner and disagree without being disagreeable. And if you want to complain about a governmental entity or a particular elected official, my first question will be, “Did you vote?” You need to know that my favorite pet peeve is people who don’t vote.

So, The Forum sails on and celebrates its 25th year of publication. That’s quite an accomplishment at a time when many publications are reducing their staffs and content and others have folded shop altogether because of competition from 24-hour cable television news and the Internet. The Forum, fortunately, seems to have found its niche. I offer my personal congratulations to my good friends Jay and Hugh and the entire staff at The Forum. It is an honor to be associated with all of you. Keep on keeping on.

Lou Gehrig Burnett, an award-winning journalist, has been involved with politics for 44 years and was a congressional aide in Washington, D.C., for 27 years. He also served as executive assistant to former Shreveport Mayor Bo Williams. Burnett is the publisher of the weekly “FaxNet Update” and can be reached at 861-0552 or louburnett@comcast.net.