A MARRIAGE MADE IN JOURNALISM HEAVEN

Byline: RICHARD L. ELDREDGE, Staff
Date: January 1, 2005
Publication: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The (GA)
Edition: Home; The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Section: Living
Page: E2
Column: PEACH BUZZ

We scribbler types pride ourselves on our alleged powers of observation. Still, today's wedding of Atlanta journalists Chris Schroder and Jan Butsch managed to catch many of the couple's media brethren off-guard.

Over the past decade, Schroder, the former publisher of Atlanta Intown and Atlanta Buckhead community newspapers, and Butsch, the monthly publications' parenting columnist, have been fixtures around town at media events. Between deadlines, they managed to fall for each other.

"I just called him up one day and asked if he was in the market for a parenting column," Butsch told Buzz of their first meeting. "I turned up at his house on Feb. 1 [1995] to turn in my first column. He didn't even read it, but he made me stand on the front lawn while he took my picture to run with it. He had no idea if I could write or not!"

Schroder, 48, and Butsch, 46, became fast friends and eventually discovered they had attended the Westminster Schools in Buckhead and the University of Virginia two years apart.

"He was student body vice president at Westminster, and he asked me if I remembered him standing up at assembly every Friday when he made announcements," recalls Butsch. "I told him, 'No, but I remember your cute friends.' "

In the days following Sept. 11, 2001, Schroder decided to tell Butsch how he felt about her. Today, almost 10 years after they met, the couple will make it official.

The pair also have teamed up to release "Just a Stage," a collection of Butsch's hilarious parenting columns, the debut book from Chris' newly formed publishing company, Schroder Media. It's available at Amazon.com and at the Bilthouse gift shop in Buckhead. The book is dedicated to Butsch's two children, Catherine and Christopher, who have most of their childhoods splashed throughout "Stage's" pages.

Catherine, now 17, is an editor on Westminster's school paper. Cracks Butsch: "It's safe to assume revenge is coming!"