The Power of Ten Seconds

as told by Duffy Jennings

“My journalism career was significant. It wasn’t the LA or NY Times, but The Chronicle was the 9th largest newspaper in the country. The stories covered during my time spoke to the environment of the 70s in Northern California. Vietnam protests. Black Panthers. Weather Underground. SDS. New World Liberation Front. Symbionese Liberation Army. The mass murderers: Zodiac and Zebra serial killings. Patty Hearst kidnap, Golden Dragon restaurant massacre, Marin County Courthouse shootout.”

Duffy Jennings became a reporter at the San Francisco Chronicle in 1969 at age 22. He got the job on a tryout; hadn’t finished college and had no experience. It was extremely unusual. And, boom, he got a byline with his first story. Unheard of! Most new reporters have to wait about six months for a byline. The fact is, Duffy could do the job and within 10 years he had The Resume.

“Into ‘78 and ‘79, we had Jonestown. And then Dan White killed Mayor Moscone and Harvey Milk. That trial was equivalent to any big trial in this country. I was in the courtroom every day.

“By the time 1980 came around, there was some buzz about me having a path to city editor. This is when Corey Busch, Moscone’s former press secretary who was working with the San Francisco Giants baseball team, came to me and asked, ‘Would you consider coming to work for us? We don't have anybody in PR, public relations, who understands the media, or the politics and history of the Bay Area the way you do.’

“I thought about it for maybe 10 seconds. ‘Hell yeah.’ He hired me and I left The Chronicle in November 1980.”

This 10 second decision marked Duffy’s starting over.

“It wasn't easy at first. I had a little bit of an understanding of what PR people did, but was I nervous, absolutely. PR is the dark side for journalists. A PR person is trying to get the reporter to write what the PR person wants. Some of the sports writers didn't like the fact that I was onto them. I knew exactly what a guy was getting at by the way he asked a question. I could see two questions ahead and I would stop my player from talking. I'd say, ‘Let’s think about this for a minute.’

“A contingent of sports writers went to Bob Lurie, owner of the Giants, and asked him to fire me. But he said, ‘No, Duffy's my guy. You're just going to have to get over it.’

“I was with the club for twelve years. Nine years into the job, San Francisco was hit with a 6.9 earthquake. It rocked Candlestick Park minutes before the start of the third World Series game in October 1989. This was a major national story. The game was postponed for 10 days.

“My years with the Giants were the best. I love baseball. Having a job in baseball was like Hollywood. You’re traveling all over the country and interacting with great baseball stars from other teams. It was just magic.”

Duffy Jennings - https://duffyjennings.com/