The value of vigilance
Children are amazing creatures. Nothing gets past them. Ever. If you doubt this, then exhibit some questionable behavior within a 2-mile radius of a child. I guarantee it will come back to haunt you. Which is why parents — at least the good ones — are ever vigilant about the things they say and do in the presence of the wee ones, for fear that they may pass along some bad habits or character flaws — or get chastised by their spouses.
I have learned over the past three years that MRT’s readers exhibit a similar predisposition to keen observation. In the very first column I wrote for this magazine, I promised better writing, more timely stories and a restoration of journalistic integrity. Ironically, in that very issue, I mistook a symbol for milliwatts and instead typed megawatts, which, given the story, made no sense at all. Boy, did I hear about that — and fast.
It has been said that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and I am happy to report that not only did I survive that unfortunate faux pas, but MRT — judging from the feedback we get from readers — has fulfilled the promises made and is stronger than ever. Of course, most of the credit has to be given to the talented writers, editors and artists that produce the magazine each month, as well as a cornucopia of electronic content that appears daily and weekly. But I also have to give a nod to our readers, who are passionate about MRT and the industry it respectfully and humbly serves. We know you’re reading and scrutinizing the information we bring to you — and that definitely keeps us on our toes.
A case in point: Last month, we published a photo on the cover of former Sen. Barry Goldwater using an amateur radio set, which was fitting because the cover story focused on the future of amateur radio. There were two problems, however: We not only failed to acknowledge the senator’s presence on the cover, but we also didn’t note his long and considerable support of amateur radio. We clearly should have, which several readers eagerly pointed out to me.
That’s fine. It’s gratifying and energizing to serve engaged readers who read MRT cover to cover. Thanks for reading and writing. Please keep the feedback coming. In the meantime, best wishes for a safe, healthy and productive new year.
