Chapter 1
After the fire which destroyed the old Junior Gazette building – and once the shock of Lynda being found alive had abated - there were many meetings with all concerned about the future direction of the paper. This included Matt Kerr, Mr Sullivan, Bobby Campbell, Lynda and occasionally Colin, when he could wangle an invite.
"We feel it would be of far greater benefit to the community if the Junior Gazette returned to being a school-based project for kids in need," explained Mr Sullivan.
"But sir . . . !" Lynda began.
"In a moment, Lynda," said Sullivan. "There will be plenty of time for you to get your point across."
"Preferably without destroying any of Mr Campbell's office décor," added Matt Kerr dryly, noticing her fingers were inching towards the ceramic vase that had long ago replaced the ashtray.
"After all," Sullivan continued, "Don't you think you and your original staff members are becoming a little too old to run a paper which promotes itself as being 'for youth, by youth'?"
"I hardly think being in one's early 20s qualifies as being geriatric!" snapped Lynda.
"Quite," replied Sullivan with a smile. "That would put myself and Mr Kerr in the positively prehistoric age bracket."
"Speak for yourself!" smirked Kerr.
Bobby Campbell tapped his pen and stared out of the window, waiting impatiently for the meeting to end. He would have preferred to have been rid of the Junior Gazette altogether. He found it boring and a drain on his resources. Turning it back to schoolkids wasn't going to help profits, and letting Lynda and her team keep the paper wasn't going to be much benefit either, once the exclusive stories about "The Girl Who Lived" died down. His contribution to the meetings thus far had amounted to not much more than grunts as he mentally constructed a lucrative retail complex on the old Junior Gazette site.
"Lynda, we know how much you're determined to keep the Junior Gazette in a firm grasp," said Matt Kerr.
"Of course I am!" replied Lynda. "Look how hard we've fought to keep it going! I'm not going to let something as trivial as a fire stop us now."
"Or a near death experience, for that matter," interjected Colin. "Now if that doesn't just ooze determination, well . . .!" He spread his hands in a shrug and smiled benevolently on the group. If Lynda herself was determined to keep the Junior Gazette in a firm grasp, then Colin was even more determined to help her. Where else would he find a job where he would enjoy such a free rein (and such access to the books?) CM Enterprises was a good side venture but unfortunately, paying off people seemed to outweigh any profit made.
"Fortunately," continued Matt, "I believe we may have a solution." He left the office and returned with a silver-haired, distinguished gentleman who Lynda immediately recognised as newspaper mogul Robert Mayer – an old colleague of Matt's and someone she had enjoyed a chat with at a certain cocktail party.
After introductions and pleasantries all round, Mayer delivered his proposal to Bobby Campbell in no-nonsense terms by offering to buy The Gazette and Junior Gazette from him.
"But that still doesn't . . ." Lynda interjected.
"Now now, Lynda," warned Matt Kerr. "I think we should give Mr Campbell and Mr Mayer some time to discuss the proposition, don't you?"
Reluctantly, Lynda followed Matt Kerr, Mr Sullivan and Colin out into the waiting area. It was some time before Bobby Campbell appeared at the doorway.
"Deal's done," he said casually. "Matt, meet your new owner."
"But what about . . ." Lynda tried again.
"Ms Day," said Mr Mayer, turning to her. "Perhaps you will join me for a one-on-one discussion? Mr Campbell has kindly agreed to allow us to use his office."
Lynda agreed, puzzled. Colin made to follow her into the office.
"I believe it was a one-on-one discussion, Colin," said Matt firmly. Colin read the tone immediately.
"Oh, right! I expect they'll bring me in when it gets a bit heavier," he replied. "So, then! Matt! What's happening it Editsville down at the Gazette, eh?"
Inside the office of Bobby Campbell, Mayer delivered another straightforward proposal, this time to Lynda.
"Give up the Junior Gazette and allow it to return to a school-based paper," he said and continued before she could protest. "Then take the position of editor at a new weekly magazine for young adults. New offices, modern equipment and with positions available for all current Junior Gazette staff."
Lynda gaped.
"May I have some time to think about it, sir?" she asked after the power of speech had returned.
"Of course," replied Mayer.
Lynda did take some time to think about the proposal. While it was hard for her to give up what she had worked so hard for, the idea of being able to cater to a larger and more mature audience and the prospect of working in a colour format was exciting. She talked it over with current staff members in Spike and Julie and former ones in Sarah and Kenny. All encouraged her to take the next step and in the next meeting, she gave Mayer her answer.
"Excellent decision, Lynda," he said.
"And a very mature one," added Sullivan with a wry smile.
"So what happens now?" she asked.
"The first thing we need to address is staff training. There are quite a few differences between working on a newspaper and a magazine. All of the current Junior Gazette staff who accept positions at the new magazine will be required to attend paid training courses for a minimum of six months, yourself included."
"Right," replied Lynda.
"We'll need to source a location for the office, as well as equipment, furniture and fit-out. I have people who can do that for you and you can be involved as little or as much as you like regarding fixtures, fittings, that kind of thing."
"Oh, I think I'll leave that up to your people," said Lynda, a little dazed. "Apparently my sense of colour and style leaves something to be desired."
Matt Kerr and Mr Sullivan exchanged glances. Lynda relinquishing control? How times have changed!
Mayer outlined several other things that would be implemented. Lynda was glad Colin was there taking detailed notes as she was hardly taking anything in. New offices! New equipment! Nothing that was second-hand or begged, borrowed or stolen from the Gazette office!
As promised, Mayer's people took charge of the task of developing the new office while the ex-Junior Gazette staff developed their own knowledge and experience on the training courses.
An IT department was created and Billy Homer took the position of running it. He soon became a fixture in the new office, instructing technicians where to lay data cables and determining where the IT hub should be. As a result, the new premises were definitely a lot more wheelchair friendly than the previous ones.
Finally, everything was moved in, assembled, plugged in, switched on and ready to go. Exactly 10 months after the fire, there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony outside the new offices. Lynda had invited now-Mayor Swanson to do the honours. It seemed only fitting that she should be involved from the inception of the magazine as well!
Robert Mayer was also present and made a toast to the new magazine.
"It is with great expectations that we launch this new magazine. I have been in the media business for quite some time now – yes, thank you, Matt, we don't need to know how long exactly – and I must say I've rarely had the privilege to see such a tight-knit group who consistently achieve such outstanding results. I look forward to seeing what they can do in this new format. Ladies and gentlemen, a toast to the magazine which has risen from the ashes. The Phoenix!"