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I’ve been a journalist for many, many years, so I know not every email I open will be a pleasant one. When I covered religion full-time, I was told a few times a year that I was going to hell. Oh, and I’ve been raked over the coals for calling a dog a mutt and for not using an Oxford comma. But even I wasn’t prepared for this brief email. (Yes, I changed the word at the end. I didn’t want to offend anyone!)
Hey Marketta! Is that honestly your real name? Anyway, I bet my god can kick your gods @#$!
So, here’s the thing. I’m just not sure how to respond.
What would you do?
P.S. Marketta is my real name.
About Marketta Gregory
I never meant to be a columnist. I trained to be a newspaper reporter -- one who tried to her best to be objective. I covered religion for a few years and felt like it was the best job a curious woman like me could ever have. Every day I got to listen as people told me about the things that were most important to them, the things that were sacred. But the newspaper industry was changing and few papers could afford to have an army of speciality reporters. So, I moved to cover the suburbs where, as luck would have it, they have plenty of religion, too.
Eventually, children came into the picture. One by birth and another two months later by foster care/adoption. I struggled to chase breaking news and be home at a decent hour, so I made the move to what we journalists call the dark side: I took a job in public relations. (Don¹t worry. I work for a great non-profit, so it¹s not dark at all.)
When I gave my notice at the Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle, the executive editor asked me to consider writing a column on a freelance basis. She didn¹t want the newspaper to lose touch with its religious sources, and she still wanted consistent faith coverage. I was terrified. It took me about 10 months to get back to her with a solid plan and some sample columns.
And so it began, this journey of opening up my heart to strangers.
