Real People Empty Nesting

An Interview with Sandra D. Long

by Robin C. Bonner

A Passionate Career
Sandra Long is Vice President of News Operations for both the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Daily News. As a journalist, she rose through the ranks, getting her start as a reporter for her high school newspaper. Today, she manages the operations of two city dailies, which appear in both print and Web formats. Sandra’s enthusiasm for the news industry is infectious, and Empty Nest welcomes the opportunity to speak with her.

EN: Your career in journalism is long and varied. What made you decide to be a writer? Describe the path you took to your current position. How did you juggle career and family when your children were young?

SL: I wrote for my high school newspaper in Annapolis, MD, mostly covering minority neighborhood events. When writer Alex Haley visited town in 1970, the paper assigned his interview to me. He talked about researching his family’s history, which he traced back to a slave ship that landed in Annapolis, of all places. He planned to compile his findings into a book, and this eventually took shape as the best seller Roots. This experience served as an epiphany: Reporting hooked me and I wrote an excellent article for the paper—one that attracted a good bit of attention!

I went on to study journalism at the University of Maryland. At that time, only 800 of the 35,000 students were black. Beginning in freshman year, I worked on Black Explosion, an alternative black newspaper, and by senior year, I managed it as a regular monthly publication. My first job after school was as staff reporter with the News Journal in Wilmington, DE, where I wrote about community affairs and education for 4 years. In 1977, I took a position with the Evening Bulletin in Philadephia, covering the suburbs in PA and NJ. My job titles included copyeditor, writer, and editor. The paper closed in 1982, and at that point, I was 8 months pregnant with my son. So, I became a “stringer” (freelance writer) for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

In January 1984, I joined the Inquirer as a staff reporter for the suburban bureau and in 1986 I was made an editor. When my career demanded more of me, I hired a nanny; she picked up my son from elementary school and my daughter, who had come along in the meantime, from day care. She took them home and started homework and baths. Upon my arrival from work, I’d catch up and take over, having cooked dinner the night before. I juggled my schedule to attend PTA meetings and other important events. At that time, my husband worked in Harrisburg during the week, so I was essentially a single mom!

In 1991 the Inquirer promoted me from deputy suburban editor to Main Line bureau head. That same year we were a Pulitzer Prize finalist for our coverage of Senator Heinz’s plane crash. In 1994 I advanced to assistant managing editor for finance and administration. The responsibilities differed very much from what I had done previously—I now handled budgets, and systems editors reported to me. I eventually rose to managing editor and, in 2008, Vice President of News Operations. Today I oversee six different departments that include both graphics and copy under the umbrella “Shared Services” for both papers and their affiliated Web sites.

EN: Describe your typical day at Philly.com. You apparently love what you do—why is that? What attracts you?

SL: My job is very exciting—and busy! Its “seeing the whole picture” approach to publishing a newspaper appeals to me. A typical day lasts about 10 or 11 hours and is filled with meetings, which begin about 9:30 a.m. At 10:30 I convene with the Inquirer staff and at 11:30 with the Daily News group. In the afternoon, I confer with the night staffers coming in for both groups. Mostly I deal with day-to-day operations, but once a week I have budget meetings. I also talk with photo editors every day and do a lot of long-term planning. Right now, we’re focusing on how to cover Phillies spring training. And we had a lot of work for the Inauguration: four photographers assigned to the swearing in, the parade, the balls—everything! It all takes careful orchestration, today more than ever because of limited finances and the weak economy. And, as you can imagine, a lot of crises and deadline issues crop up.

EN: Do you and your husband work in the same field, or are your careers very different? What are your common interests—what do you enjoy doing together?

SL: My husband works in telemarketing, which differs significantly from newspaper publishing. Together, we love to travel, and have been fortunate enough to visit our children when they’ve studied in Ghana, Spain, and London. Mostly, we like to have people over—small groups, neighbors—and do some entertaining and perhaps discuss books we’ve read.

EN: You have college-age children. Tell us about your children, their interests, and your relationship with them.

SL: Yes, Sean is now 27 and living in New York City. Most recently he held a job as a planner for Lord & Taylor. And he’s engaged—the wedding is set for the end of November 2009. My daughter Shari is a political science major at NYU, so she also makes her home in New York. We all like to spend time together when we can, playing board games and watching movies.

EN: You’ve been in management for some time—do you still write? If so, what?

SL: I haven’t had much time to write in recent years. For a while, I did write a blog called “In Sandra’s Shoes,” which centered on my bout with breast cancer. I haven’t written for it in the past year. However, I do keep a personal journal.

EN: What kind of reading do you do? Enjoy the most? Do you have any other hobbies?

SL: I favor murder mysteries by Sue Grafton (I’m up to P Is for Peril!), Martha Grimes, P. D. James, and Walter Mosley. Recently, I’ve also read and enjoyed Sara Gruen’s Water for Elephants.

I confess to a weakness for stationery, and I love to write “real” letters to my children, friends, and sisters and other relatives. It’s good to get away from email. I also collect stamps, but I limit myself to U.S. stamps of African Americans. It’s a lot of fun.

EN: What advice do you have for empty nesters?

SL: Think about what you’re passionate about! Exercise has an important place in our lives. (And I need to heed my own advice!) You must keep healthy. Spend as much time as possible with your adult children and find activities you all enjoy. Volunteer! I’m taking part in “Philadelphia Reads” by visiting schools and reading to students. Finally, keep a good work-life balance! See your friends—I have many, both inside and outside of the news room.