The Questions #1: Russ Newton
Introducing a new interview series. [Reading time: Intro = 3 min. Interview = 13 min.]
Today The Upload is launching a new interview series called The Questions. Over the next 15 months, I’ll be interviewing somewhere between 1.5 and 15,000 people. All guests answer the same 13 questions, and then they choose two others from a long list of options, bringing the total to—you got it—15.
My first guest is Russ Newton, a newspaper executive who started working as a dispatch courier as a teenager in the late 1970s. He retired in 2020 after being diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) at the age of 59.
In his long career in the newspaper industry, including at the LA Times, the Chicago Tribune and the Orlando Sentinel, he spent almost a year as the president and chief operating officer of the San Diego Union-Tribune. We missed each other by a few weeks. I left my reporting job there in April 2015 and he started in May.
A few months ago Sandra Dibble (former colleague, present friend and hopefully a future interview guest) nudged me toward his blog, where Russ writes with a storyteller’s knack and a newsman’s candor about his experiences with ALS — including how he’s feeling, his evolving thoughts about life and death, and how infuriating it is when he comes up against accessibility obstacles. He also shares some good stories, such as the time the newspaper press he managed kept shutting down and the solution came at 1:30 a.m. from an unexpected expert:
I was standing there thinking hard about what would cause this to happen when a young press apprentice came up to me and said he noticed something happening that might be the problem. I almost told him to get lost but I decided I needed a distraction to get out of my head for a minute so i went with him. He explained that he was watching the last start up from the back side of the press and he swore that he saw one side of the press run a different speed then the other side. I was about to tell him that was impossible but I decided to stay there and watch the press start up. And son of gun, he was right!
… Group think is always more powerful than the smartest person in the world. … You can't succeed using only part of your workforce, you need to include everyone.
In our interview, which happened over email in late November, Russ Newton explains why the Union-Tribune job was the best one he’s had and why he’s never had a work contract. He offers his best advice for managing people and lists the five simple rules he gave his employees. He also reflects on whether or not, if given the chance, he’d go back and change anything about the life he’s lived so far.
Interviews in this series are proofread and lightly edited for flow and clarity.
15 Questions for Russ Newton
Q. In three sentences, what is the story of your life?
I was born in a lower middle class home in Madison, Wisconsin. When I was 25 years old I was honest with an unknown man at a job I was working at and entered management as a result of that conversation. When I was 55 years old I tried to retire and instead was offered the best job in my life as President and Chief Operating Officer of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Q. What truth did you share and did you find out who the man was? And why was the Union-Tribune job awesome?
It was Gene Bell! [Gene Bell bio here. -RP] He was the SVP of Operations at the Chicago Tribune in 1985 and there had been a strike and I was a replacement worker. When you work that way you must follow the union contract. That made it worth our time by working us 12 hours a day. That way, after 7.5 hours of straight time you went on overtime and if you worked another shift within 16 hours, it was double time. So we were making about $10,000 a week in 1985. As you might imagine, we had a lot of down time. So we would play cards and shoot dice in the quiet room. And I did too, but I got tired of it and the shop I came from you were expected to keep yourself busy. So I went to the rag room and got a bundle of rags then I went to the blanket wash room and got a bucket of blanket wash. And then I started wiping down units. Then Gene Bell (unknown to me at that time) came out on the floor and asked me what I was doing.
I was as bit of a smart-ass, so I replied, "Dude, are you slow, I am wiping units down."
He then asked me why was it doing that? I said they were dirty and part of my job was to keep them clean.
He then asked another question: "Why are you out here cleaning and the other guys are sitting down and playing cards?"
I said I can only control what I am doing, not when anyone else chooses to do.
He then asked me one last question. "What would they be doing if you were their boss?"
I said, "They sure as shit wouldn't be sitting down. They would be out here with me, working."
Then he walked away and the next day I got called into the office and received an offer to join the Chicago Tribune as a pressroom Supervisor and get paid $35,000 a year. That was a $10,000 raise over what I was making as a journeyman pressman. So that was how I got my start in management.
[Regarding the Union-Tribune:] Well, for the first time in my life I was the person in charge of the whole newspaper. And I love working with Advertising and Editorial, two areas I didn't work in prior to that. And I told the Advertising guy when he asked what he should target for ad sales the following. I said I have no idea, what do you think you should focus on? And he looked at me and said you are the first leader I have had that ever asked me that question.
Editorial was a breeze for me. All you had to do was be honest with them. When they asked "Would there be layoffs?" my answer was, "If we can't figure out the advertising/revenue piece, yes there would be layoffs." And they responded to that by asking me how the company was doing. And we were doing fine; we actually finished 2015 over the prior year in ad revenue and lineage. And I bet we were the only paper in the county to do that in 2015.
And you get invited out to dinner four or five times a week and asked to speak. Well, that was in my wheelhouse. I liked to eat and I liked to talk, so it was perfect for me. And my wife at the time was living in our summer home in Wisconsin, so I had all the time in the world to do that kind of activity. And when you are the leader of the newspaper, people actually want to hear your opinion. And I was happy to give it.
Q. What problem or opportunity do you observe in your field that most other people don’t realize is impacting them or will?
Being transparent and honest with employees. It creates an environment where the employees give the maximum effort. So you end up with a great running operation. It doesn't matter what field you are in. People are people. And they all want to be dealt with honestly and openly. And failing to do that, you will not get their full effort in your area of responsibility.
Q. When did your childhood end?
When I was 15 or 16. I was working and going to school and I knew my parents couldn't afford to send me to college. So I tried to save money of my own so I could go to college. I didn't end up going, but that was when I felt fully responsible for my life.
Q. What do you choose not to worry about?
Things I don't control. Like ALS. I can't control it so I don't worry about it. I know I am going to die soon, but I still believe in my head I will live for a long time. I know there is a dichotomy in my mind, but that is what I believe.
Q. That dichotomy you bring up is interesting. I guess one way to look at it, or the way I do based on what you wrote, is that there is a discrepancy between knowledge and hope or faith. If we believe only what we know, life would feel (therefore be?) more limiting and dull. Plus, how do we really know what we know? I know many times I’ve been wrong about things I had been certain about. Maybe that’s the root of hope: being happily disproved — the opposite of disappointed — and so we sometimes suspend acceptance or resignation, despite evidence it’s warranted. Don’t know if this is making any sense.
It makes perfect sense to me. When I was in fourth grade I read a lot of books. And in that process I came across words I had to figure out what they meant by context within the text I was reading. Well, one formative mistake I made was believing the word Approximately means Exactly. And I explained that to my 4th grade teacher and would not back down. As you might imagine, that was the wrong thing to believe and die on the hill for. So I learned at a very early age not to be so certain about things. Does that make sense?
Q. Perfect sense.
Q. How do you decide what you can control and what you can’t? (Sometimes it’s clear-cut, but do you find the gray areas are tough?)
I hate to say this, but I just know when I can effect change and when I can't. And I don't waste any effort on change that won't happen. And life is full of gray areas, but I see things as black and white most of the time. And sure I can sometimes think I can effect change but discover I can't. Then I just put it to the side and don't worry about it anymore.
Q. What is the greatest risk you’ve taken?
I moved to LA in 2000 to be a director of operations. It was to run a company the Los Angeles Times owned called California Community News. There was a union drive on and the SVP that hired me wanted me to come in as the Packaging Manager and leave the current Director of Operations in charge but with the understanding I would take over after the election and I was to be paid as the Director the entire time. I agreed.
Well, I had someone from Corporate HR come out and do an assessment of the team. I got pulled into the Director’s office and was told I was "the most disrespecting manager" he had ever seen. And that if I was to succeed working for him I would never bring someone from Corporate into his operation again without his knowledge.
I flipped my badge on his desk and said I quit and walked out. I went home and laid on my bed for about two hours thinking about what I had done. The phone rang and it was the SVP and he was begging me to come back, he would straighten the whole mess out and I was the Director of Operations. But for the drive home and two hours I was sure I had made a big mistake.
Q. That is a hell of a story!
Q. Who, living or dead, would you choose to go on a 3-day road trip with, and where?
My mother and we would drive around the country and visit relatives. My mother died in 2000 from advance early onset Alzheimer’s when I was 40 and I would love to spend more time with her just driving and talking.
Q. Word association:
Fear. Fear stops most of us from asking the girl out or taking the opportunity to move up or anything else worth doing, fear stops us from doing it. What is the worst thing a girl could say to a boy? No, I won't go out with you? That is the worst thing that can happen and it will not kill you or hurt you in any way.
Selfishness. I always try to make a transaction with another human to work out so there is something in it for the other person. So I don't understand the point of selfishness.
Freedom. We all have the freedom to live our lives the best way we think we can. Within the constraints of the law and custom I would say. But I have never worked with a contract. And I don't think I ever would. I wanted the freedom to quit my job at any time and go do whatever it may be I wanted to.
Humanity. Well, the context I think the most about that word is the ability to see beyond sex, color, handicap, orientation or any other difference from me and truly see that person. And to give them a chance.
Q. Re: Humanity, if you could put your finger on what stops people from doing what you describe, what is it? Is it selfishness, fear, ignorance, loyalty to false idols, something else?
Some people are prisoners of their upbringing. When I was a youngster I was prejudiced against Poles, Russians, Norwegians etc. But they were all white. And it was kind of pointless. Then when I was 21 years old I went to work in a pressroom that was 60 percent Black. And I learned pretty quickly that Black people were just like white people. Some of them were nice, some of them were neutral towards me and some were assholes. Just like white people. Nothing different. And then when I received my first major responsibility I was in charge of a group of people who were in entry level jobs. And that most of them were minorities. And I discovered that if you treated them right, they would work for you. And furthermore, I believed we got better than average people from that group because we were one of the few companies that offered a path to success. So again, if you are honest with people they will work for you more than if you are dishonest with them.
Q. Describe a perfect hour.
Well, right now, it is sleeping. Because when I am asleep I dream. And in my dreams I can speak to others and I can eat, two things I can't do now. But before ALS? It would be to read in good light, in a comfortable chair and very quiet.
Q. What is an absolute truth?
Not sure I can define it. I know it when I see it. A sunset. A child's laughter. A job well done.
Q. What book have you read that you think about more than others?
Replay by Ken Grimwood. It is a book about a man who dies at his desk in his office and wakes up as a 17-year-old version of himself, but with all his memories. And he gets to live his life out again. And he dies at the same age and it happens again. Except he is 21. And then he dies again. And he is 30. And it just keeps going.
It is a fascinating concept to me. To live my life over again, would I change it or not? And I think the answer is I wouldn't change anything. Everything that has happened to me formed me into what I am now. And I am happy with that person.
Q. What words would you like to share with the humans who will hear or read this?
Try to laugh more. Get to know your neighbors. Have good friends over for dinner. Be kind to everyone. Be generous with your time. Make time to enjoy a sunset.
Q. What’s your best piece of advice for the person who’s trying to do the thing you do best?
(On my blog many of the comments are from former employees.) Be open and honest with employees. Come up with simple rules.
I always told employees that there were five things I expected from them.
1. Be on time, most of the time.
2. Don't call in sick too often. We see patterns and we act on them.
3. Do your assigned job reasonably well.
4. We will be 100% responsible for a safe operation. You are 100% safe when you're working.
5. Get along with each other. Talk about football if you can do so without bad feelings. If it causes bad feelings, don't talk about it.
Q. What is something important to you that you have lost?
Well, I lost the ability to speak and eat at the same time. That wiped out 80 percent of the joy from my life. I loved people. Even the ones that don't like me. I think to be successful as I have been at work, you need to understand people. And I do love talking to people. Every night I drove home I would call someone. I had a big rolodex and I had over 500 people I could call. And I managed to speak with most of them at least once a year. And some favorite ones maybe 20 times. And now I have to laboriously type out a response on my phone when I wish to speak. And the conversation has moved past the subject I am addressing. It is so painful to me.
And eating. I grew up almost poor and we didn't eat high on the hog is the best way to put it. So when I started to have a little bit of success, it opened up a world of good food to me. And I loved eating. The funny thing is now I weigh 205lbs. When I was at my max, I weighed 305lbs. And I hated it. But I loved eating so much it was a losing battle for me.
Q. Your idea to call people on the way home is genius. (And lovely.) I am inclined to see this story about conversations moving faster than some people are able to type or communicate as a metaphor for many kinds of communication breakdowns. I hope people hear this message. Given how rushed we are, how excited we are to check things off our list and move onto the next, what are we missing? What conversations are we not having? What and whose ideas are we not hearing? And why are we in such a damn rush. Myself included.
Q. What is something that you're deliberate about, and why?
Going down stairs. I turn the lights on, I grab the railing and I make sure I am not thinking about anything else. And I try not to carry anything, or if I have to, I put it on the steps or just toss it down the stairs.
Q. Why do you like to be alive?
I love being alive right now. I love reading, watching good TV shows and I love people. I enjoyed good food. Good food with good people is a good combination.
And that concludes today’s Upload.