Tributes continued to pour in yesterday for veteran journalist Therese Mills, founder of daily newspaper, Newsday. The media fraternity was thrown into mourning at the sudden passing of Mills, aged 85, on New Year's Day.To many she was an icon and she will forever be remembered for the creation and development of Newsday. The consensus among the tributes paid to Mills yesterday was that she irrevocably changed the face of media in T&T.
Independent senator, Helen Drayton
"The Therese Mills I knew had been much more to T&T than a journalist of distinction. Therese was a patriot, seeker of truth, and artist of words. She was a teacher of the craft, a mentor, children's storyteller, and lover of the best of art and culture.
"Therese was a flower that bloomed in her prime, but continued to send blossoms throughout her time. Her indomitable, emotional and mental strength never wilted, and even though she was not in the best of health for some time, she had unexceptional willpower to forge ahead like the brave soldier she was. Her convictions on social, economic, and political realities of local life never waned."For me, the most memorable times with Therese were not about journalism, but sitting in my kitchen dishing out pot-luck.
"Therese moved through life like the passages of a glorious day. Farewell lady of St Vincent Street, farewell, lady of light."
Sunity Maharaj,managing director of theLloyd Best Institute of the West Indies
"Therese Mills was a path-breaker, for women as well as for all journalists in T&T media."She was the first woman to hold the position of executive chairman of a media house when she was appointed by Daily News Ltd, publishers of Newsday."Her appointment was also historic in marking the rise of a journalist to the highest executive management position in a daily newspaper.
"With her experience of 68 years, Mills has been the most enduring figure in the media landscape of T&T. She witnessed the media's many transitions, from the era of colonialism to Independence, from state control to liberalisation of the broadcast media sector, and from the hardcopy world of the typewriter to the softcopy world of online journalism. Her autobiography, which she was reportedly writing, should be a valuable addition to our knowledge of the T&T media.
"With Newsday, she beat the odds in defying the popularly-held view that there was no place for a third daily newspaper in the T&T market. Not only did Newsday survive; within four short years of its 1993 launch she had led it to the number one position among the dailies. Using a strategic combination of pricing, distribution and content, it held that position over eight consecutive market surveys.
"Mrs Mills was also a key figure in the launch of the Media Complaints Council, which emerged as a media self-regulatory body in the midst of the 1996 dispute between Prime Minister Basdeo Panday and the Trinidad Guardian."Over her long career, she has also been responsible for bringing a significant number of persons into the profession, many of whom cut their teeth under her editorial guidance, both at the Trinidad Guardian and at Newsday. My condolences to her family and to the staff at Newsday."
Owen Baptiste, former editor-in-chief of the T&T Guardian and the Trinidad Express
"I am sorry to hear about her passing. She was a marvellous young lady. She did very well on her own. She lived a full life and I am happy she did so."
Media Association of T&T (Matt)
"It is with a deep sense of loss that the Media Association extends condolences to the family, friends and prot�g�s of the late Mrs Therese Mills."Over her multi-decade career, Mrs Mills reported prolifically on national, regional and international events."Mrs Mills began her career in 1945 at the Port-of-Spain Gazette.
"She was the first woman to read and write her way to the top of a national newspaper in T&T and the Caribbean, when she became editor-in-chief of the Trinidad Guardian in 1989, after joining the paper in 1956 as a junior feature writer; she remained in the top position until her retirement in 1993.
"Mrs Mills' contribution to national education, entertainment and opinion-shaping through news and opinion was recognised by the State in 1987 with the Humming Bird Medal (Silver). In 2012, she received the nation's second highest award, the Chaconia Medal (Gold), also in recognition for her outstanding contribution.
"Since taking up the challenge at Newsday, she was able to guide the paper to its pinnacle, being the most-read paper for eight consecutive surveys. In October 2012, University of the West Indies conferred upon the grande dame of T&T journalism with an honorary Doctor of Letters degree."Mrs Mills was a mother of three, grandmother, great-grandmother and mentor to many young and experienced journalists.
"Mrs Mills also worked in radio and television, covering Grenadian politics prior to the 1983 uprising; US presidential elections of 1984; and Commonwealth conferences in Hong Kong and Australia. "Journalists of the quality, integrity, longevity and selfless contribution to the profession of Therese Mills are to be admired. Mrs Mills never held a banner aloft about women's rights and their right to be in the most senior positions in journalism, but she surely demonstrated it in her many decades of work in the profession.
"On behalf of its members, Matt again extends its condolences to the family and friends of Mrs Mills at this time."
T&T Publishers and Broadcasters
Association (TTPBA)
"The TTPBA joins the media fraternity and the national community in mourning the passing of an outstanding daughter of the soil and a pioneer in the media industry with strong journalistic roots. Mrs Therese Mills' focus on newspaper journalism and administration has been unparalleled.
"Mrs Mills was a trailblazer who paved her journalistic journey of success as the first female Guardian editor-in-chief, first female chairman and CEO of a national newspaper, forever expanding the boundaries for women in media in T&T. Many in the industry admired her resilience, commitment and integrity.
"The TTPBA extends condolences to the family of Mrs Mills and at the same time we say to our member, Newsday (the Daily News Ltd), that it is evident that her ethical and journalistic standards along with her prowess with a pen will live on through its pages on a daily basis."
Irving Ward, T&T Guardian Editor:
"Therese Mills can easily be credited with having a hand in the development of the majority of the seasoned journalists currently engaged in the media across the board. She had an eye for spotting a journalistic talent as well, which is why she was able to help people develop their careers so well.
"One of the things she drilled into those of us fortunate enough to have worked with her was to always be professional in our approach, to always focus on details and thoroughness, to try to develop an eye for the news behind the news and to think outside the box. It is perhaps this aspect of her which led many journalists to label her the Iron Lady, because she certainly would not allow journalists to take any short cuts in her dealings with them.
"And she was a true journalist to her final days. She worked the long hours, read the stories, took part in the decision making and fulfilled her responsibility as editor-in-chief when many felt she should be at home taking it easy in her elder years. We will probably not get a journalist like her anytime soon. We have truly lost a gem. "
Suzanne Sheppard, T&T Guardian Business News Editor:
"I started working with Mrs Mills many years ago in the 1980s at the Trinidad Guardian. When I joined the Guardian as a court reporter, she was then the editor of the Sunday Guardian. The Sunday Guardian, in those days, was quite a formidable publication, it was the best-selling newspaper edition. The Guardian was at the top of its game then. Mrs Mills, even back then, was a respected trailblazer in the business.
"Working with her–on a more personal note–what I liked about Mrs Mills was she was very hands-on with reporters. When she assigned you to do something–and I learned a lot that way–she would walk you through, she would tell you. She was very clear on what she wanted you to do. She would give you her insight, what she knew of the situation and advice you on how you should approach the story. Even afterward when you came back and reported what you had got, she would be there giving guidance.
"I remember when I had difficulty writing, she would sit with you and tell you, 'Maybe you can write it this way or that way.' She was very meticulous and very clear and precise in how she would direct you. I have had the privilege of working with Mrs Mills as a young reporter and even as an editor, I was with her at Newsday.
"To the very end, she was head and shoulders above us, in terms of her grasp of news. She brought that wealth of experience, six decades at the time of her death, to bear on the news coverage, her knowledge and considerable understanding of the terrain."Journalism has evolved considerably over the years that she worked in it but she managed to keep abreast of those changes. Mrs Therese Mills was indeed the trailblazer and a powerful example for all of us to follow."