An interesting incident took place at work late yesterday afternoon. I was sitting at my desk reading a copy of MEDIAWEEK when a colleague came into the office to report on a meeting he had attended. He asked if I had time to chat with him and I told him I was reading an article and could he shoot back in ten minutes. He gave me the strangest look and then I realized that I had committed the most heinous workplace crime of all – reading while on the job.

What is it with reading at work? Most people that spot you reading surmise that you are slacking off and shirking your responsibilities to waste valuable office work time. They equate it to reading an Archie comic while on the job.

In the marketing and public relations arena, if you are not on the cutting edge you quickly become one step behind the competition. In fire and police public information you never want to be one upped by another department or branch of public service.

I must spend several hours each day absorbing information both on the computer and in print to keep me current on what’s happening in the profession. We cannot step ahead unless we settle down to take in the wealth of information that is now at our fingertips.

I financially subscribe to over 20 different online and print publications in addition to scanning on a daily basis numerous free websites and blogs that give me the tools to better inform and market to the public.

What a fraudulent conception. I guess if you’re hunched over your computer buying a pair of pants online that is work, while getting print ink on your hands is punishable by the law.

P.S. As an aside, the fire house is the best place to read. There is a certain understanding that if you are reading magazines like Fire Rescue you are trying to hone you skills. Most guys ask you what you are reading and what you have learned. Heaven!!

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