Dear Editor,

I read editor Bob Groeneveld's article concerning change in the management of the Langley Advance as it concerned the higher echelons of ownership [Not much changing here... yet, July 20 Odd Thoughts, Langley Advance].

His accompanying remarks on changes in the newspaper industry itself were of riveting interest to me.

During the Korean War, I failed to conceal the fact of my deteriorating eyesight and was transferred from an infantry regiment to the U.S. Forces Public Relations School in New Rochelle, New York. Upon graduation, I became a public relations officer, and hence my future newspaper career was assured.

The Sudbury Star, the High River Times, the Albertan, the now-defunct Nelson Daily News, and then the Calgary Herald were the major players in my life until 1970, when we moved to Langley.

The Langley Advance in those days was located in a tiny office on Fraser Highway.

And it seemed to my wife and I that Auntie Maude's tea party was likely to share the front page with news of more importance.

The Langley Advance has progressed dramatically in its appearance, its coverage, and its overall quality.

I can only surmise the technological advances that the news and advertising team must master in this age of electronics.

I can recall the days when the classified sections produced huge amounts of any newspaper's revenue. Due to Craigslist and the electronic age, this section of all newspapers has become a mere shadow of its former self.

It is difficult for an old codger like me to ingest the fact that 300 book-length novels can be viewed on one tiny device that can be held in one hand.

And apart from that, much of the information available in this world can be produced by pushing the correct button.

I admire the newspaper staff that progresses in this rapidly changing environment.

I wish them well and do take advantage of their excellent on-line reporting.

It was so simple in my day: send a telegram of 10 words; letters from home when overseas came on flimsy paper that took a couple of weeks to reach the recipient, if you were lucky; radio offered news and entertainment when television was just a story in "upcoming events" in the daily paper.

However, I know that Bob and the staff of the Advance will forge into the future with gusto, and continue to bring before us the events that will affect our lives.

Mike Harvey,

Langley