[Ohio-Talk] EXT: Announcing a New Editor and Why It Should Matter to You! By Mark Riccobono

[Andra Stover]

I am sure Chris will do a wonderful job at this.

On Sun, Dec 8, 2024 at 11:14 AM smturner.234--- via Ohio-Talk <
ohio-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> *Announcing a New Editor and Why It Should Matter to You*
>
> *by Mark Riccobono*
>
> [image: Mark Riccobono]This article is to announce the new editor of the *Braille
> Monitor*. There is much groundwork that should be laid before we get to
> that announcement. So, if you are the type who gets right to the point,
> feel free to skip to the end but be sure to come back to put the
> announcement in context.
>
> Let’s remind ourselves why the *Braille Monitor* matters. The first
> editor of the *Braille Monitor*, George Card, wrote in the inaugural
> issue of this monthly publication in July, 1957, “According to the
> dictionary a 'monitor' is a person who 'advises, warns, or cautions.' A
> Braille monitor is one who carries on this function for the blind, and this
> is the pledge of the editors of this magazine.” Since that time, with some
> exceptions, eleven times a year the *Braille Monitor* has been delivering
> blind-centered, blind-led, and unapologetically strong content related to
> the blind of this nation and sometimes the world. For the last sixty years,
> the publication has been extremely reliable and is a core part of the
> Federation’s budget every year. It is available in multiple formats and
> accepts submissions from a diverse range of blind people. If you are
> reading this, you are eligible to submit an article. The *Braille Monitor* is
> our publication, and it is a key tool in sharing our stories, elevating our
> concerns, and mobilizing members for action. As we launch into 2025, as
> individuals we have a range of tools available to us to tell our stories.
> These tools are, of course, available to the Federation as well. Blogs,
> social media platforms, video- and audio-sharing sites, and other online
> forums allow fast sharing of information. We also know that fast does not
> always mean accurate or truthful. As the Federation has added the new media
> tools to its communications strategy, the *Braille Monitor* has stood the
> test of time as our shared means of documenting our collective history and
> mobilizing action for tomorrow. Whenever I have a historical question, I
> know I can find a thoroughly researched answer in the *Braille Monitor*.
> With our archives available online going all the way back to 1957, there is
> a goldmine of information about the progress blind people have made. We
> need that connection into the future. The *Braille Monitor* is that
> highly accurate, deep-dive publication. Furthermore, having an article
> written about you in the *Braille Monitor* is a great honor if you are
> doing good things and it is a great accountability mechanism if you are
> not. As we move to a new editor, we have another opportunity to rethink and
> reformulate how our flagship publication represents our aspirations for the
> future. If we do it right, in twenty years, the *Braille Monitor* will be
> the source of accurate information for how we dealt with the pressing
> issues we face today. Furthermore, it will serve as a reliable measuring
> stick for the progress we have made as it has since 1957. For an extensive
> history of the publication through 1990, you can consult the section “On
> The Record: The Evolution of the *Braille Monitor*” (
> https://nfb.org/sites/default/files/images/nfb/
> publications/books/wamt/wam15.htm
> <https://nfb.org/sites/default/files/images/nfb/publications/books/wamt/wam15.htm>)
> from *Walking Alone and Marching Together* (which was published to
> commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of our organization). A companion
> piece covering the next two decades of the *Braille Monitor* was
> published by Barbara Pierce when she turned the role over in January 2010.
> Read her reflections in “A Generation at the Editor’s Desk.” (
> https://nfb.org/sites/default/files/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm10/bm1001/bm100103.htm
> )
>
> What is the role of the editor of the *Braille Monitor*? I was struggling
> with a new way to articulate it, so I called on ChatGPT. My prompt yielded
> this response with some minor edits by me:
>
> The role of the editor of the *Braille Monitor* is both a steward and a
> voice of the National Federation of the Blind’s values and aspirations. As
> editor, one is tasked with not just curating information but shaping a
> publication that inspires, informs, and unites readers. The editor is
> responsible for identifying and amplifying stories that reflect the lived
> experiences, challenges, and triumphs of blind people across the country,
> making sure that each issue resonates deeply with members and allies of the
> NFB. Through articles, personal narratives, policy updates, and resources,
> the editor crafts a publication that strengthens our collective resolve and
> furthers our advocacy efforts.
>
> This role also requires a keen understanding of the issues facing the
> blind community today, alongside a commitment to fostering open, sometimes
> difficult conversations that ultimately serve to facilitate dialogue within
> the community toward a shared understanding or policy position. The editor
> must balance journalistic integrity with the heart of a movement, curating
> content that uplifts, challenges, and celebrates blind people’s
> contributions to society. In essence, the editor of the *Braille Monitor* helps
> to set the tone and narrative for our movement, reinforcing that, together,
> we’re building a future where blind people live the lives they want.
>
> I would add that the editor’s job has always been more expansive than just
> the publication. Often the editor assists with crafting written statements
> on behalf of the organization, contributes to the overall communications
> strategy, and serves as a thoughtful researcher in helping the elected
> leadership sort through new issues. The editor informs the organization’s
> style guide and helps to ensure that all publications share a value of
> accuracy and integrity. While many people contribute to our communications
> strategy, the editor of the *Braille Monitor* is a senior position that
> requires deep understanding of the people within the movement and the
> issues blind people face. Furthermore, while it is not an elected
> position—it is a paid staff position assigned by the President—it has the
> potential of making waves within the democracy of the Federation. After
> all, some people are very opinionated about what does or does not get
> published. The editor is given the discretion to make judgments consistent
> with Federation policy. This may sound simple but there is a lot of
> territory where the Federation has not yet taken a position through our
> national convention. Furthermore, you may have noticed that we have done a
> great job of empowering blind people to be self-advocates. Thus, our
> editors get a lot of criticism but rarely praise for the steady work they
> do. There have been nine editors of the *Braille Monitor* by my count.
> Barbara Pierce was the first truly full-time, long-serving editor. Between
> Barbara and our current editor, Gary Wunder, they have guided the
> publication for more than half of its existence.
>
> Why get a new editor (or what’s wrong with Gary Wunder)? Those who know
> Gary Wunder will understand what Gary might say to the question of “What’s
> wrong with Gary Wunder?” His sense of humor is one of his many outstanding
> qualities. The reason for this change now is precisely that there is
> nothing wrong with Gary Wunder. He is healthy in body and mind, and his
> energy for the movement seems to me to be as high as ever. He could
> continue to serve expertly as our editor, but we also know that planning
> for a successful transition is part of the responsibility of leaders in our
> movement. Gary and I have talked for some time about planning for this
> transition so that we have time to onboard a new editor while Gary is
> available to advise and mentor. We agreed that the time has come.
>
> While this is not a farewell for Gary Wunder, it allows me a moment of
> personal privilege to talk about our outgoing editor. I first met Mr.
> Wunder at the Wisconsin affiliate convention in 1997. I was a college
> student, and I was living in Florida that semester as I was in the Walt
> Disney World College Program. I flew back to participate in the convention.
> Having Gary Wunder there as national representative made it worth every
> sacrifice I had to make as a poor college student. I have been blessed to
> observe Gary’s work, learn from his example (and his lessons learned that
> he openly shares), and work closely with him on many projects. In many
> ways, I am still being mentored by him although I have been supervising his
> work for a decade. The heart and thoughtfulness he puts into the *Braille
> Monitor*, actually into everything he does, is truly extraordinary. If
> there is a Federationist that everyone feels at ease talking to, it’s Gary
> Wunder. While his name has appeared as editor of the *Braille Monitor*,
> he has expertly used his quiet writing guidance to improve everything from
> banquet speeches to oral interviews with people who did not feel
> comfortable writing their own story. He always is respectful to the work of
> the individual he is working with, while making subtle suggestions that
> strengthen the core message. If you have been fortunate to work closely
> with him, you have also likely received his emails that frequently contain
> some quip intended to make you laugh or realize that things are not as
> heavy as you thought. During these past fourteen years that his impressions
> have been left within the pages of the *Braille Monitor* as our editor,
> you can find all of the qualities he has given to our movement. You can
> find him grappling with emerging issues, sharing his heart for blind people
> who have been beaten down, and expressing gratitude for the thousands who
> have contributed to a moment we have celebrated, his plain language
> approach to complicated issues intended to draw all of us into our shared
> fight. Fortunately, we will not miss Gary because he will still be a
> critical part of our Federation communications group and, if I know our new
> editor at all, Gary will be tasked with writing some more articles for us.
>
> With that, I want to publicly thank Gary Wunder for his tremendous service
> as our editor and his success in helping to plan for a transition to the
> next editor. My short remarks do not do justice to the tremendous impact
> (or is that effect) of Gary’s contributions as our editor—that being only
> one of a number of significant roles he has played in our movement. I am
> proud to continue to call him a friend and colleague.
>
> What about that announcement? Thank you for hanging in there as all of the
> above is important background to the announcement of the next editor of the *Braille
> Monitor*. Please welcome Chris Danielsen! Originally from South Carolina,
> Chris came to know the Federation at a formative time in his young life.
> Although his parents expected much of him, Chris had to overcome the
> societal low expectations and his own internalization of those
> misunderstandings. He got to know Federation leaders like Donald Capps and
> was selected to receive a National Federation of the Blind Scholarship.
> However, it was not until he made the decision to receive training at the
> Louisiana Center for the Blind that he feels he unlocked his true potential.
>
> I first met Chris in November 2003 when we moved to Baltimore so I could
> take a position on the Federation staff. Chris had been hired by President
> Marc Maurer to tackle some new communications strategies. Chris described
> himself as a recovering lawyer—he actually still does that today. He had
> been hired two months before me; thus, Chris also has been a mentor to me
> in many ways. In the twenty years that Chris has been at the center of our
> communications work, he has been both a steady rock and a source of
> innovation, pushing the organization to try new ideas. Our branding work,
> the growth in our communications strategy, and our engagement with the
> media are largely due to Chris’s contributions and consistent efforts. He
> engineered the media campaign around the Blind Driver Challenge in 2011
> where we got more than one billion media impressions. And he did so even
> while working through the personal loss of his father. That is not to say
> that everything Chris has tried has worked. In fact, part of his success is
> that he has pushed us to try things and, when they did not work for the
> movement, he learned and found another thing to recommend. He continues to
> find ways to push us, and he demonstrates a willingness to learn as he
> goes. I think he is long past being a recovering lawyer but thank goodness
> we have his legal skill as he often has to break down our legal victories
> into communication-sized bites that all of us can understand.
>
> His move to editor of the *Braille Monitor* is much more than simply a
> new staff position. Chris is a dedicated member of the Federation who
> provides leadership in our Greater Baltimore Chapter and within our
> Maryland affiliate. He does not just take calls from reporters in the
> evenings, he engages with a wide range of members of the chapter and
> dedicates time to local advocacy. Chris currently serves as president of
> the Greater Baltimore Chapter and second vice-president of the Maryland
> affiliate. He is working with members at the local level, and he lives life
> as a blind person with all of the same barriers that each of us encounter
> on a daily basis.
>
> Chris thinks deeply about the things confronting blind people and how
> those issues intersect with the broader concerns confronting all people in
> society, and he is not afraid to learn from a variety of sources. I am
> confident that Chris will take on this new important role with the same
> commitment and thoughtfulness with which he has tackled each and every
> assignment he has accepted in the movement. I am certain he will build on
> the strong traditions and commitment to excellence that our previous nine
> *Monitor* editors have shared. We do not expect him to do things exactly
> the same or to express the same style in his editorship. Chris will bring
> his own unique approach to the work of steering our flagship publication.
> We can feel confident that in doing so he will be true to our brand, will
> be rooted in our shared philosophy, and he will build on the policy
> priorities set by our members. Thank you to Chris Danielsen for your
> service to the movement and for taking on this extremely important role for
> us.
>
> Now for your assignment. You can honor our outgoing editor and challenge
> our incoming editor by writing something for the *Braille Monitor*. This
> is your publication, and we need it to reflect your ideas and concerns.
> Take some time to author something. If you need help, call on our editor,
> but remember that your story is valuable within our movement. Let’s flood
> our new editor with content and find out what interesting things he can do
> with the material we offer. This is our publication, and we all have a
> voice to offer to the choir.
>
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