TRAVERSE CITY -- "Our lives are all about stories that we hear and retell."
Throughout her 35-year career, journalist Susan Ager felt privileged to immerse herself in a kaleidoscope of lives. Meeting people, stepping into their lives and hearing their stories was "one of the blessings" of her profession. In addition to writing page one articles and longer features for a weekly magazine, Ager penned a column three times a week for 16 years.
The Northport resident took a buyout from the Detroit Free Press 18 months ago after 25 years with the paper. Now freelancing here and there, Ager relishes time unencumbered by looming deadlines and the opportunity to volunteer with Munson Hospice.
Ager will share highlights from her career during a talk to the Traverse City Branch of the American Association of University Women. "One Woman's Lessons for Women" also will introduce listeners to a few women she met along the way, their stories and photos and impact. The free talk will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Grand Traverse Heritage Center, 322 Sixth St.
"(I'll) describe some of the lessons I learned from these women as well as some of the lessons I've learned from doing the job that I did for so many years," said Ager, an award-winning writer.
"I don't miss day-to-day journalism, I miss meeting strangers, sitting in strangers' kitchens and hearing their stories," she said. "And a couple of hours later leaving and feeling like we've almost become friends. Don't miss the deadlines and the self-imposed pressure."
Sharing Ager with the club and women in the community reflects the AAUW's mission: advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research. Established in 1954, the local club has 100 members and holds regular meetings year-round.
Ager attended the service and networking organization's annual book sale last year and expressed interest in speaking. Club president Shirley Murray later heard her give another talk and was hooked.
"She gave a speech last year at the Women's Economic Club and I thought, 'Oh, my gosh, we've got to have her,'" said Murray, who read Ager's columns for years while living downstate.
Ager began her career with stints at the San Jose Mercury and the Associated Press. She entered the newsroom after pioneering women had already carved out a place. Reflecting on her own experiences, Ager never felt a taint of overt sexism or discrimination.
"The newsroom I'm familiar with is generally, generally a fairly fun and professional and fair-handed environment," Ager said.
The computer and Internet revolutions instead played out over the duration of her career. With these developments came the decline in traditional print media, whose days -- except for community weeklies -- Ager believes are numbered. The changes are not over yet and newspapers may evolve into news centers.
"There will always be a need for information and insight; trained professional insight is invaluable," she said. "They will come up with a way to make money off of the Internet, charge readers for what they get online and therefore pay journalists to do what they do."
For more information about the American Association of University Women -- Traverse City Area Branch, see www.aauwtc.org.
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