Introduction to Arnold Markowitz. 2:50 min. Interview: Raymond Elman. Audio: Beverly Muzii. Post-Production: Lee Skye. Music: Carmen Cicero, Recorded: 8/22/2024, Miami.
ARNOLD MARKOWITZ (b. 1936) grew up in Highland Park, New Jersey. He attended Marietta College, in Ohio, which gave him an opportunity to write and edit for the student weekly newspaper. His first news job outside of college was as summertime sports editor of the Marietta Daily Times. After college he worked for a year at the weekly MilltownSentinel in New Jersey. Then he transitioned to the Newark Star-Ledger, starting as a police-beat reporter.
In 1967, after 6+ years at the Star-Ledger, Markowitz was offered a general assignment reporting job at the Miami Herald. In 2001, the Miami Herald downsized and offered a buyout. He accepted the offer, retired, free-lanced for half a year, then started writing a monthly fishing column for the Waterfront Times.
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CREATES A UNIQUE PERSONAL BRAND: 1:25 min.
The fact that you were the Miami Herald’s primary breaking news writer suggests that you were fast, accurate, and succinct.
EMPATHY: 3:54 min.
Given the hostility toward journalists today, were you ever threatened by people in your stories?
SEIZES OPPORTUNITIES: 1:02 min.
I have been fascinated by Meyer Lansky for a long time.
EMPATHY: 1:00 min.
Meyer Lansky was famously portrayed by the great acting coach Lee Strasberg in “The Godfather, Part II.” What did you think of that portrayal?
OVERCOMES CHALLENGES TO SUCCEED: 4:41 min.
What did you talk about with Meyer Lansky?
EXPOSURE TO BROAD INFLUENCES: 4:07 min.
Where did you grow up, and what was your first awareness of art of any discipline?
INSIGHT & INSPIRATION: 1:52 min.
Several of the writers I have interviewed said that their parents read adult fiction to them rather than little kids books.
SERENDIPITY: 1:55 min.
You grew up in New Jersey. Did you have to work at losing your accent?
SEIZES OPPORTUNITIES: 7:13 min.
Where did you go to college, and what was your evolution as a journalist?
INSIGHT & INSPIRATION: 5:16 min.
Who were some of your role models and influencers?
RESILIENCE: 5:31 min.
How did moving to the tropics impact you?
INSIGHT & INSPIRATION: 0:38 sec.
Many of the news correspondents that I know are adrenaline junkies. They get off on putting themselves in harm’s way.
UNDERSTANDS THE BUSINESS OF ART: 5:48 min.
I think of journalism as an art form, but when I speak with veteran journalists, they poo-poo the idea. They think of journalism as a “blue-collar” job. Yet movies like “The Front” and “All the President’s Men” romanticized journalism.
UNDERSTANDS THE AUDIENCE’S PERSPECTIVE: 1:15 min.
The old-style movie image of the newsroom no longer exists.
CRITICAL THINKING: 3:12 min.
All of the journalists and editors I know are very smart people. Why is the publishing industry going down the tubes?
INSIGHT & INSPIRATION: 1:53 min.
We published an ArtSpeak video conversation with Nicholas Griffin, author of “The Year of Dangerous Days.” I assume he spoke with you during his research.
CRITICAL THINKING: 1:15 min.
I assume you prefer reading physical books to audio books or books on a Kindle.
