I have a T-shirt from the Bureau Chiefs. It says, “Documenting the Collapse since 2009.”

It refers to newspapers and is from a group who produce a sometimes riotous, sometimes not, thing called the Fake AP Stylebook.

I like the shirt. It’s comfortable and when people see the phoenix with an old fashioned fedora, cigarette in mouth, whiskey bottle in one talon, notebook in the other, they ask questions.

Sadly, some of the message is true. Some of it is not true.

There are papers collapsing. Some are thriving and others are hanging on.

I think the problem newspapers are having is economy driven. I think it also has to do with management, outdated management, who think people are always going to want that paper in their hands.

From my experience, some of this is true, some of it is not and the middle truth is some people just don’t care.

In many ways, my newspaper experience has been a great one. I’ve met interesting people, people who have made a difference, people who have not made a difference.

I’ve had notes passed to me in court by one of the areas largest drug dealers and I’ve witnessed two executions, one covering the protests on the outside and one where I watched a man be put to sleep.

I have developed great sources who even now, with my change, keep me informed. I’ve found more people are willing to talk to me now that I’m not with an established paper.

In other ways, my newspaper experience has been a disaster. It has been tainted by self important people. It has been tainted by egomaniacs who only care about saving a dollar and the benefit it gives them and it has been tainted by bosses who are right no matter when they are wrong.

You don’t get into newspapers because you know are going to be fairly compensated. It wasn’t long ago that overtime pay was half time and not time and a half and most people who enter newspapers are college educated, driven individuals who care.

Many newspapers have become lost in the Human Resources madhouse. Many newspapers hire the first applicant who walks in and the results can be disastrous, hilarious and sometimes, in rare moments, the right decision with huge benefits.

I write this not to bash any papers I have worked for. I say this so that maybe they will open their eyes. Maybe they will see the human side instead of the dollar side.

This is the part that many outside the newsroom don’t see. Unfortunately, it is the part that drives many reporters away, often to public relations, often to jobs outside newspapers.

I will admit, I have never been a good or even great employee, that is an employee who blindly accepts everything a boss says to me.

A relative once explained to me a theory called the Question Behind the Question. It shows any questions other than how or what are not questions, but rather excuses. It is a theory that says management is never wrong and employees have no choice but accept what is given to them.

Many years ago I was given an assignment to document the votes of a county commissioner who management was convinced was, “Commissioner no,” because it seemed to them he always voted against things.

I found early in my research he voted yes for just as many issues as he voted no. I told management this and was told to continue researching the story. It was a hack job but management didn’t care.

I should have walked that day but I didn’t. I think I would have been happier.

While much of the problems within newspapers are because of the economy — ink prices are high, newsprint prices are high — there is a human side to the story of some newspapers.

These are stories where employees who give all are not respected and asked to do more within a 40-hour work week knowing it’s impossible with night meetings and spot news. There are stories where self interest and who management socializes with get you sidetracked on stories which have no purpose.

I want to see newspapers succeed. I want to see rrspin.com succeed. Newspapers, however, have got to rethink things. Newspapers have got to treat employees better, give them better compensation and sometimes listen to them.

Yes, the economy is a huge factor but there is sometimes a human side which needs to be addressed — Lance Martin.