Staff profile: Meet Christopher Millette of the Erie Times-News and GoErie.com

Christopher Millette, Erie Times-News
·6 min read

Local journalism requires local journalists. In this space, we will spotlight the Times-News staffers who serve our community. Subscribe at GoErie.com/subscribe.

Meet Christopher Millette

It's a pleasure to meet you, if I haven't already.

I'm the managing editor at the Erie Times-News and GoErie.com. I help run the day-to-day planning and execution of our newsroom staff of reporters and photographers.

Previously, I was the digital editor here, and — before that — the photography supervisor. My other full-time journalism jobs were as a 10-year staff photographer at The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News | Pennlive.com and five years as a staff photographer at the Charleston Gazette in West Virginia.

I'm a native of Putnam Valley, Putnam County, in the Hudson River valley of New York, about an hour north of New York City. I have a photography degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology and completed internships in Rochester, New York, Saginaw and Muskegon, Michigan and Charleston.

My wife, Kim, our son, Grayson and I live on Erie's west bayfront.

We've been here for 15 years. Every day, it seems like I run into someone I know, or meet someone new who knows someone else I know. Erie is the biggest small town I've ever lived in. And that's a good thing.

Perspective:Son's respect goes up in smoke

A son reflects on his parents:Acknowledge the regrets, hold on to the memories

Christopher Millette, managing editor
Christopher Millette, managing editor

Why I became a journalist

There will be no Millette memoir.

Partly because I'm boring and nobody would want to read my life story. But mostly because I can't remember anything unless I write it down. It's a constant source of ridicule in my family. About 10 years ago, I began keeping a journal so I would have some record of the things that won't stay in my sieve-like noggin. But that's too little, too late, probably.

All that gets me to the answer of the "Why I became a journalist" question. Which is: I made the decision in my second year of college. But I can't remember why, or what sparked journalism in me as a career.

I do know that I'll talk to anyone, and I have an obsessive need to ask questions, learn new things and understand people. I took a psychology class in college that I seemed to like, I think. Can't really remember ...

And I also know that journalism gives me an excuse to dive into my subjects' thoughts and motives. That is usually educational for me, sometimes personal for them, but always revealing of their character and drive. Telling stories and taking photos about all that makes me happy. And, hopefully, it helps you better understand your neighbors and yourself.

What I like best about my job

That's an easy one. I and my brilliant, hard-working colleagues at the Erie Times-News get to hold the powerful accountable, be the voice of the voiceless and tell the stories (large and small) that weave together the fabric of this community that I love. How is this not the best job ever? I am proud and honored to do this work for the people of northwestern Pennsylvania.

A story I worked on that has had a lasting impact on me

In my career, I have photographed four presidents, three of them while they were in office. I've been in an underground coal mine. I've been near the one working reactor at Three Mile Island (which would explain a lot about me). For two different stories exactly one year apart, I have photographed — through tears, both times — two people as they took their last breath. I have made family-friendly photos at a nudist resort.

All that — and so much more — is memorable, for sure. But what really gives me juice is making pictures and telling stories about a family from Harborcreek enjoying CelebrateErie, or surprise birthday party, or a Prep-McDowell football game, or the pride and hard work of a local business owner.

Telling stories about my community is the most important, fulfilling work I can do.

But if I had to pick one story, it would be my year-in-the-life look at the Truesdail cattle farm in Venango Township. I'm not sure why they let me hang around so long, but I'm glad they did. I made at least 50 trips out there in 2019, and the report — which I wrote, photographed and for which I designed the print layout and the online display — is definitely my favorite story of my career so far. And it's the best work I've ever done.

A year in the lifeUp close with the Truesdail family on their cattle farm in Venango Township, Erie County

I keep going back, too. Being at that beautiful farm is therapy, and the Truesdails treat me like one of their own. There is nothing better than fixing fences, shoveling manure and pushing cows around. I live for those visits. And I always have my camera and notebook with me.

Sireah Drzewiecki, 31, walks to work along Peach Street in Millcreek Township on Feb. 14, 2020. Braving 16-degree temperatures and a -9 wind chill, Drzewiecki, made the 25-minute walk from her home at The Reserve at Millcreek to her job at Gordon's Meat Market in the 5000 block of Peach Street. On that morning, the Erie region saw the lowest temperatures of the year.

What is the biggest challenge I face?

Time. Always time. There are so many stories to tell and so little time to get to them all. But we will always prioritize what matters: Memorable photography, watchdog journalism, data analysis, in-depth reporting, sense-of-place features and complete coverage of topics like high school sports in northwestern Pennsylvania. No one can match what we do.

What I like to do when I’m not working

Anything outdoors: Hiking and cycling, mostly.

And — like almost everyone in Erie — I look forward to all the things to do here in the summer, especially baseball. I will always try to make it to UPMC Park at least once when the Binghamton Rumble Ponies play the Erie SeaWolves. I need to keep track of who's down on the farm for my New York Mets.

I love to read, as well. But that usually involves about two pages at a time of one of the many history and biography books that are stacked on my bookshelves. Then I fall asleep. Long days are to blame.

Favorite event or Erie-area tradition

There are so many. But if I had to pick just one, it would be the Tall Ships Erie festival, which is set to return in August. I hope to again be on a boat in the bay covering the beauty of the sailing ships that will visit Erie.

Anchors aweigh:Ticket sales, first ships announced for Tall Ships Erie 2022 festival

Why journalism matters

Without a guard dog, the house gets robbed. Without journalism, democracy is in peril. And with all the division and politics in our lives in these times, telling the truth has never been more important. That's what we in Erie have always done, and will continue to do. And I'm proud to be part of that legacy.

Contact Christopher Millette at cmillette@timesnews.com or on Twitter at @ETNMillette.

Your subscription plays a vital role in supporting local journalism that the Erie community can trust. Thank you to existing Erie Times-News all-access and GoErie.com digital subscribers. Find the latest subscription offers.

Meet more of the Erie Times-News staff

David Bruce | Tim Hahn | Josh Reilly | Valerie Myers | Matthew Rink | Mike Copper | Jennie Geisler | Ed Palattella | Greg Wohlford | Jim Martin | Tom Reisenweber | Kevin Flowers | Jim Martin | Baylee Demuth | A.J. Rao | Lisa Thompson Sayers | Dana Massing | Benjamin Chambers | Tony Battaglia | Jeff Kirik | Melissa Lee

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Meet Christopher Millette of the Erie Times-News and GoErie.com