My the best book? You are asking me to choose amound my children!

Why did you decide to connect job as a historian and books author with work in newspapers? How does it begin?
- I was a journalist from 1974 to 1986, working as a staff writer for Congressional Quarterly in Washington, D.C. I had been free-lancing on the side and decided to try free-lancing full time in 1986. I have been doing that ever since.

I had received my M.A. in history in 1971 and had thought about getting my Phd and teaching. That didn’t happend, but I have always considered myself a a journalist first, and a historian second.

You are author of six books. Which one is the best, the most interesting book in your opinion? That book was the most difficult to write?
- You are asking me to choose among my children! All of them are good, all of them were interesting to write. The most difficult perhaps was Flag: An American Biography because it covered so many areas over a long period of time.

How did you start work for newspapers - for example New York Times or Washington Post? How the work looks like there?
- When I worked at Congressional Quarterly, as I said, I free-lanced on my own time. That was mainly book reviews, although it also included feature articles. I have done about 25 book reviews for the Washington Post over the years and have written some features about exercise for them, as well.

You chaired panels at academic conferences and spoken to students (American University, Georgetown University, the University of Massachusetts, University of Miami and University of Notre Dame). That can you say about historical knowlegde of your students?
- It is difficult to generalize, but I find that the historical knowledge of studies at least those who are in history classes is about what I expect. They more or less know most of the basics, but the ones in the survey courses generally dont know much in depth.

Do you meet some polish students during your lessons, conrenences?
- Sorry, no.

What is the most important for journalist?
- You have to be determined. You have to be able to write clearly and cleanly, to make your copy readable. You need to be aggressive to an extent not necessarily pushy (although that often helps), but you have to get out there and do things such as arrange interviews when the person you are after doesn’t necessarily want to be interviewed. You need to be able to meet deadlines.

Do you think the global economic collapse has an influence on newspapers in U.S. ?
Is now more difficult to find good job as journalist or other than before that?
- Yes, the global economic problems have hurt newspapers at a time when they are in serious decline. On the other hand, as I believe you know, there are more opportunities out there with the great expansion of journalism on the Internet.

I have information you have been active in many non-profit groups. What did you do?
- I have been a big library advocate for about 20 years. I have served in volunteer positions with my local Library Advisory Board, and for eight years as a trustee with the Loudoun County Library, and I am in my fourth year on the Board of Trustees of the Library of Virginia. I also have been a board member of the Mosby Heritage Area Association, a local history and preservation group.

How long you did you work to write “Flag: An American Biography”. How the work looks like? How you get information? What could you say obout this book?
- It took about two year altogether, approximately. It’s the complete history of the American flag from the beginnings to the present. It is objective history, with analysis. I used as many primary sources as I could (letters, diaries, newspaper articles, official documents), along with interviews and made use of good secondary sources.

Do you plan to write next book?
- My next book will be published on March 1, 2011. It is a concise biography of the Marquis de Lafayette for the Great Generals series of books published by Palgrave Macmillan.

Thank you for conversation and good luck.

marcleepson - official website of Marc Leepson