Comments on: The death of a curious mind

By: dutnyixpq

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By: Korina

Korina — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:14:51 +0000

I can hnlestoy say that is one thing my husband's never asked for! Wish he would–as long as he used it on his garage!

By: consultoria em marketing digital

consultoria em marketing digital — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:13:04 +0000

Hi Jarvis,
I bought your book, he’s excellent.

Eu também adoro Deborah Howell. Ela é uma pessoa maravilhosa.

Benic

By: Gio Joe

Gio Joe — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 02:21:54 +0000

Hi. Thanks for this post!. I also Love Deborah Howell. She’s a wonderful person.

By: Mark Bedford

Mark Bedford — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 08:10:56 +0000

I heard from Deborah as she was getting ready to leave for NZ. I knew Deborah Howell (and Peter) through her brother, Ghent Howell – When he was dying of AIDS, Deborah had a theory that if she could just keep him traveling, he would last forever. It almost worked. She was a lioness in her love for him and I remember being astonished at this tiny woman, whose toughness and energy was surpassed only by her compassion and impeccable integrity. Being with Deborah was an adventure in living. My heart goes out to Peter.

By: Ian M Rountree

Ian M Rountree — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:30:29 +0000

One of the things we worry about is whether or not our passing will be noticed, recorded, cause a ripple. People showing they notice beyond just coming to a memorial.

It’s so nice to see these ripples in action, isn’t it? Even if the event itself is not at all lessened in hurt.

Thanks for sharing this.

By: Photomaniacal » Blog Archive » Roy Greenslade: Ex-Washington Post ombudsman killed in car accident

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:01:24 +0000

[...] appreciations by her former paper, by Jeff Jarvis, and Don [...]

By: Amy Nutt

Amy Nutt — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:58:20 +0000

I met Deborah Howell only a couple of times, but felt that I knew her well enough to call her a friend. As the head of Newhouse News, she never failed to send a note my way when one of my stories at The Star-Ledger was picked up and sent out. And when she heard I had breast cancer, she didn’t hesitate to call me and commiserate, sharing her own experience with the disease and even offering tips on great places to get a good-looking wig! She was kind, thoughtful, full of stories and advice and yes, profane — the kind of newsman we all want to be, hope to be. I will miss her; more importantly, journalism will.

By: Alicia Shepard

Alicia Shepard — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:33:23 +0000

Deborah Howell, better known as “Howell,” was a force of nature. You always knew where you stood with her, and yet you always felt she was on your side. She was one of the first people i contacted when I became NPR’s ombudsman and all along this journey, she was someone I relied on to run things by. The word mentor comes to mind.

Not only was she a great and true journalist, she was a champion of women and paved the way for many of us. My last conversation with her was about a month ago standing on the corner near NPR where I bemoaned how online commenting is more often than not, harsh and uncivil, and in my mind, unproductive. She regaled me with some of the names that readers of the Post –who disagreed — called her. None of which can I print. and a few of which I wouldn’t even use. But they spilled easily out of her mouth. It was one of her endearing qualities.

I will always be grateful to her for all she did for me and my family.

Alicia Shepard

By: Jeffrey Dvorkin

Jeffrey Dvorkin — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:45:15 +0000

Jeff – your tribute is much appreciated by the members of the Organization of News Ombudsmen of which Deb was a valued and trusted member. Deb was a wonderful inspiration to all of us and she will be deeply missed. A few years ago, a group of ombuds would meet over lunch in Washington, DC to share our dilemmas about readers, listeners and viewers (we represented the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, PBS and NPR at those gatherings) but mostly to mull over how our respective newsrooms were adapting to a greater transparency and how we could better get our colleagues and bosses to understand the value of that. While Deb could be one of the toughest of our group, she also knew the psychology of news people better than anyone I ever met. I’ll miss her sharp wisdom and her love of the craft.

By: Michele McLellan

Michele McLellan — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 05:24:07 +0000

Thank you Jeff for this tribute to the wonderful Deborah Howell. It is hard to think that someone so alive is gone. Thanks for helping me remember her spirit, her keen mind and her warmth.

By: marketing digital

marketing digital — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 02:55:16 +0000

Hi Jarvis,

I bougth your book, he´s execellent.

I too liked the article.

Alex

By: Roy Peter Clark

Roy Peter Clark — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 23:35:25 +0000

Thank you, Jeff, for sharing your memories and feelings about Deborah. I may be wrong about this, but I think she was the first professional woman I ever heard use the F-word in public — and mean it. I say that with the greatest affection. I must have gasped a little when I heard it, but then she repeated it. And repeated it again — in each case directed at what she thought were the futile efforts of a competitor. I wish I had the moment on video. I’d be inclined to play it just to fire me, the way that John Belushi rallied the troops at the end of Animal House. May she rest in peace, and, if there is a heaven, St. Peter’s ears must be ringing.

By: McGuire on Media » My tortured journey to becoming Deborah Howell’s friend

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 21:33:14 +0000

[...] obituary in the Star Tribune was excellent, and Jeff Jarvis wrote a marvelous blog on Deborah and learning. it was Jarvis’ blog that convinced me I [...]

By: Bill Gannon

Bill Gannon — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 20:38:49 +0000

Thanks for the great post Jeff.
The loss of Deborah Howell comes at a time when we need her grit, humor, and experience more than ever. As Jacqui noted, I was one of the many fortunate reporters in her Newhouse News Service days that Deborah always made time for. Her support, confidence, and her remarkable passion for a great story continue to inspire me today. Thank you Deborah.

By: Ken Doctor

Ken Doctor — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:19:20 +0000

Jeff: You’ve captured one of her greatest qualities. Thanks.

You note her efforts for RNS. Yes, tireless, quixotic and, yet, so in line with her restless spirit. She knew good journalism about important matters should find a home, even if the ways of the world threw up all kinds of obstacles.

My remembrance, most from the Saint Paul days: http://www.contentbridges.com/2010/01/there-she-stood-this-woman-of-small-stature-and-enormous-spirit–atop-one-of-the-saint-paul-pioneer-press-metro-desks-yes.html

Ken

By: Jacqui Banaszynski

Jacqui Banaszynski — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:05:34 +0000

Jeff. Thanks. Deborah was all you said, and more. She was a star at the center of a constellation she had a large hand in creating … a constellation of dedicated reporters and authority-challengers and community lovers and storytellers and stories that otherwise wouldn’t have been told women given a chance and men given lessons in how to dress and legions of people from all walks of life who she took on and then befriended, and writers — writers of all voices, as long as the voices were true. She always knew when they weren’t. The spike in Google hits to her name is no surprise. Too bad we can’t build a similar chart showing the people she influenced (helped) and the difference she made through every piece of journalism that somehow traces back to her central star.

By: Stephan Fassmann

Stephan Fassmann — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 18:24:25 +0000

The problem isn’t learning, it’s that there are some people who are very vocal about pointing out what you did wrong and bludgeon you with it forever. It makes it hard to take those risks, but you do it anyway.

By: Elizabeth Osder

Elizabeth Osder — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 17:47:51 +0000

Thanks Jeff, though i met Deborah only a few times, i quietly counted her as one of my mentors who i’d always wished to know better one day. I learned of her at advance in the old days, I admired her poise and work from afar, as someone who set a standard for my own career. Your tribute gives me more insight into why, my instinct was correct, and I am greatful for your special tribute.

By: Robert MacMillan

Robert MacMillan — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 16:46:35 +0000

Thanks, Jeff. You wrote a remarkable eulogy about a remarkable journalist.
robert