Join Ken Raymond on his trip from fat to fit
Last week, we started a new project on NewsOK.com.
It’s called “Ken 2.0: From Fat to Fit,” starring our own reporter Ken Raymond.
Ken is an outstanding writer and a first-class journalist. But that much was clear well before this project began.
What we didn’t necessarily know was the extent of Ken’s bravery.
Think about it. How many times have you embarked on a lifestyle change?
Any kind of lifestyle change … Dieting? Exercising? Quitting smoking? Going back to school? … anything. When you take on something like that, you are challenging yourself. And, likely, there’s some doubt in your own mind.
These kinds of things are hard — and you can often fail. Sometimes, you don’t even tell your loved ones for fear that it will put more pressure on succeeding in your personal challenge.
Now think about Ken. He’s blogging about it every day. He’s taking a video camera with him on his journey. He’s writing about it in The Oklahoman. He’s on Facebook. He’s on Twitter.
He has told the entire world. And he wants the entire world to go on the journey with him. He’ll document the trip, whether he succeeds or not.
Ken has told some amazing stories in the past. The stack of awards is proof of his talent. His last long-term project with us was the Jim Chastain: ‘Life is Real’ series as he detailed Jim’s battle with terminal cancer. In that project, Ken’s used his talents to shine light on the remarkable bravery of Jim Chastain and his family as they went down the path of ‘writing the final chapters’ of Jim’s life.
Now we see Ken becoming the subject of one of his stories. We hope you will join him.
Some great thoughts on remembering Jim Chastain
On Dec. 23, 2009, Jim Chastain died.
From the NewsOK obit:
Jim Chastain, whose fight for survival was chronicled in The Oklahoman and on NewsOK.com, died Wednesday night after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 46.
You can read much more on our “Life is Real” page on NewsOK, which we began in early of 2009. Poetically, it ended near the end of 2009.
When I first met Jim, he stated that if he can accomplish anything with his blog about living with terminal cancer, he can remind people that ‘life is real.’ Unfortunately, I have to summarize the quote because I didn’t write it word for word, but his way of saying it was much more eloquent. All I know is that it struck me as a simple and powerful statement and a noble objective.
Here are some excerpts from the “Life is Real” page after Jim’s death.
From Charlotte Lankard’s story about Jim:
Just once more, I’d like to sit across from him having a cup of coffee. Just once more, I’d like to hear him read poetry to me. Just once more I’d like to hear him brag on LeAnn, Maddye and Ford. Just once more I’d like to share a hug.
From JJ in OKC on Jim’s online Guestbook:
I never knew Jim but followed his blog religiously. His approach to fighting this terrible disease with honesty and humor was truly amazing. After recently going through the same thing with my Mom, I could empathize every step of the way. Even though some of his entries were hard to read (I laughed and cried with each), the way he dealt with his cancer helped me deal with my grief. Thanks Jim! You will be missed.
From Charlotte Lankard’s blog post, which showcases the farewell poem from Jim:
I’d been wanting to write a poem that says goodbye, but spares readers from the melodrama of poems that say goodbye.
This resulted in writer’s block, for the thought that these might be the actual words that would someday be read at my funeral made me creatively constipated.
And my personal favorite, a comment from on Jim’s blog, where we shared the information about the memorial service:
Jim Chastain’s courage and humor in sharing his and his family’s journey with cancer have brought me stamina and admiration. I take exception with the posting titled “Jim Chastain has died.” Instead I say, now Jim begins to really live. He is truly free of all pain of his disease and the worries of this life. True he leaves his family, his many friends, and his readers small in his wake, but as for me, I am much richer for having read his words, his poetry, his news stories. I say, here was a hero in our midst who demonstrated to us all what it is like to live like each day might be your last. Fly away, sweet Jim! May God’s angels wing thee to thy rest.
An update from Jim Chastain’s blog
Jim Chastain hasn’t been posting to his blog as much as he did earlier this year. And if you follow his blog regularly, you know why …
I’m still alive, but my health has really been slipping in the last two months.
That came from a post on Sunday.
His previous post before that came on Nov. 17, a funny thought about a fortune cookie he received. He viewed it as an ominous and positive sign.
I had the pleasure of meeting Jim. And if you follow NewsOK you know that we did a series of stories and a special Web site about his life and his battle with cancer. We aren’t writing stories anymore (as I described in a previous post), but we are still very much interested in his “Life is Real” blog — and it’s apparent that our readers are, as well.
So take this post as a reminder to check out his blog on a regular basis. You can always find the latest on our “Life is Real” site. And use Jim’s blog as an opportunity to wish him the best.
An extra positive thought, even from a stranger, never hurt anyone.
‘Life is Real – Writing the Final Chapters’ series continues with blogs from Jim Chastain and Charlotte Lankard
A couple of weeks ago, The Oklahoman ran its final chapters of the “Jim Chastain: Life is Real” series.
The good news is that the series ends with Jim continuing the fight and living with cancer. And our page on NewsOK, complete with Jim’s blog will continue on.
Reporter Ken Raymond shared his thoughts with a story that ran in The Oklahoman and on NewsOK:
After the last chapter that I wrote, the Chastains decided they didn’t want to subject themselves to that scrutiny anymore. The last story talked about displaced anger. When people are upset about something they can’t control, such as a dying spouse or father, they tend to direct their anger and helplessness at other targets, ones that are easier to hit. It happened in my family twice: first when my Dad died of pancreatic cancer and second when my Mom died, years later, of breast and lung cancer. It didn’t do any good to yell at the cancer, so we yelled at each other.
It’s true stuff. It’s real. But it’s not very pretty.
Our columnist Charlotte Lankard, who is also a close friend of Jim’s, shared her thoughts in our final chapter as well:
None of us should be surprised then that Jim’s family has found living in a fish bowl for the entire world to see uncomfortable, unsettling and invasive. They have made a significant contribution to this dialogue, but now they have asked to pull back a bit from the spotlight – and we will honor that.
Charlotte will also continue blogging as the series goes on.
You can read the blogs and share your thoughts with each of them. Ken’s blog will continue to be archived on the page, as will the previous chapters and the videos from videographer/photgrapher John Clanton.
Jim Chastain series reaches Chapter Two status
Chapter Two of the Jim Chastain series published in The Oklahoman on Sunday.
In case you missed it, check out the Jim Chastain page on NewsOK. It has a great design (creative director Scott Horton), great videos (photographer John Clanton), great writing (reporter Ken Raymond), great blog and — most of all — an outstanding person of focus.
Projects like these are interesting, because they highlight the talent for rich, deep coverage on a topic or subject.
Sure, we know that breaking news, political shenanigans, weather, crime and sports drive a lot of interest and traffic on NewsOK.com. But even in our changing industry, projects like “Life is Real” can give us a sense of duty and make a long-term difference in the lives readers around the world.
But the purpose of this post is really just to ask you to read Chapter Two because it’s really, really good.
Learning more about Jim Chastain
A reader sent an e-mail last week with a question about our page about Jim Chastain – ‘Life is Real’: Writing the Final Chapters.
Is there any way possible to get word to Jim Chastain ??? I want to contact him about his news article and encourage him. If I mailed my message to you could you get it to him. ?? I sent it to a J. Chastain in Norman but it was returned to me undeliverable. I also am trying to contact John lanton and Ken Raymond. Please tell me what I should do. Thank you so very much
Here is a link to Jim’s personal Web site. It’s a link to his contact page, where you can type a message to him.
Of course, you are also able to post a message as a comment on his blog:
Here is the information for reporter Ken Raymond: (405) 475-3331, kraymond@opubco.com
Here is the information for photographer John Clanton: (405) 475-3321, jclanton@opubco.com
And in case you haven’t been there recently, the Life is Real page has a new video from John Clanton and new blog posts from all three contributors. The good news is that there is good news there right now – and that’s always good.
Chapter One of Jim Chastain’s ‘Life is Real’ released
The much-anticipated Chapter One of the ‘Life is Real’ site was released on Sunday in The Oklahoman and on NewsOK.com.
The narrative was powerfully descrptive and to the point. The design was effectively simple. And the photography brilliantly sets the mood.
It yet another great example of outstanding newspaper work.
It also shows how powerful the newspaper is ….With the piece in Sunday’s newspaper, Jim Chastain’s blog jumped to the No. 1 slot for our blogs on Sunday.
His blog remains in the top 5 again today. When you get a push from the largest newspaper in the state, it makes a difference.
We soft-launched the site more than a month ago with videos and blogs. The release of Chapter 1 is the official hard-launch.
There is much more to come.
Jim Chastain site launches on NewsOK
Charlotte Lankard, a marriage and family therapist and a longtime contributor to The Oklahoman and NewsOK.com, brought an idea to us.
She had a friend, Jim Chastain, who was dying with cancer. He considered himself an “open book,” so he was open to the idea of working with The Oklahoman and NewsOK in his journey.
There’s one thing the journalists here love – it’s a good story. And this is a good story.
We had an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of Oklahomans, starting first and foremost with Jim’s. But it is all possible because of Jim’s foresight and willingness to invite the world into his struggle.
We met with Jim to make sure we were all clear of the goals — telling the story of his journey toward death in order to heighten awareness in our society of the fact that “Life is Real” and we’re all going to face this same journey.
Then we found the best journalists we could find to help tell his story: Senior reporter Ken Raymond and photojournalist John Clanton.
The rest is here at www.newsok.com/jimchastain.
Jim, Charlotte, Ken and John can tell the story (and will in the coming weeks and months) far better than I can describe, so I’ll stop typing now and let you read their stories, videos and blogs.
