Media for Living
Twenty-five years ago in 1991, the first year Living was published, the Internet had not quite come into being (regardless of who you think “invented it.”) Today, a website called “Pop Culture U.S.” quickly puts at my fingertips a bevy of trivia from 1991 including this about who first provided some of the rudimentary beginnings of the World Wide Web:
- Tim Berners-Lee [British] came up with the idea of making “links” on his own computer, then others, creating “The Information Mine” (TIM) later renamed the “World Wide Web.” He renounced patent rights because it “would have scuppered [sank]the whole thing. It never would have taken off.”
Also on the trivia list from 25 years ago:
- Liz Taylor married hubby # 7, Larry Fortensky, at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. They met in a rehab center.
- A 30-second superbowl ad cost $800,000. [One ad for 2017 Bowl? Five million.]
- Ted Turner was Time magazine’s man of the year.
- Two big movies that year, #2 and #3 on the list: “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves,” and “Beauty and the Beast.” My daughters will be happy to hear that.
- Finally, the most popular TV shows were “60 Minutes” and “Roseanne.” Hmm.
Into that world, the founder of Living, Eugene Souder, wanted to shine a light rather than bemoan the difficulties and absurdities. He assembled a board, found advertisers, collected articles and did some of the design himself, along with members of his family.
Into that world, the founder of Living, Eugene Souder, wanted to shine a light rather than bemoan the difficulties and absurdities.
My daughters were just 10, 8 and 7 when I accepted Souder’s invitation to serve as local editor in 1991 (very part time). So it was special to be able to celebrate 25 years of publishing Valley Living with Eugene, his wife Alice, and about 50 friends, readers, board, family and advertisers in mid-October (see photo).
As we near the end of this anniversary year, we send a huge thank you to everyone who has ever sent in a word search puzzle, commented on an article, shared the paper with friends, donated, participated in our special anniversary year contests (judges, entrants), or liked our page on Facebook! We thank readers who continue to love the publication we’ve created with the strength and viability of all our families in mind.
I am also grateful this issue for the cooperation of sister-brother pair Beth Trissel and John Churchman to share their amazing publishing stories: Beth is a local, long time author plugging away, and John (with his wife Jennifer) published their first children’s book last year, and out with a second just in time for Christmas. John was a childhood fishing buddy of my husband’s, and the entire Churchman family was special to him as they included him in family outings (hiking and more) since his own mother was incapacitated with rheumatoid arthritis. They were like family to him, something we can all strive to be which strengthens not only family life, but the whole community.
A blessed Christmas to each and everyone.
Melodie Davis, editor,
