The first newspaper story I ever had published appeared in the middle school paper in the fall of 1979. Within three years, I received my first check for writing and working at a newspaper and that has continued up until now. Over the years I’ve worked at media outlets, radio stations and newspapers virtually my entire working life.
My non media career consists of one month at McDonald's during my freshmen year of college, and then a three and a half month stent at Lazarus, which is now known as Macy’s. It still seems strange to me that this streak is about to end at the first of the year.
The decision to leave the newspaper industry and media in general is not a decision I came to overnight. My passion for media, and especially newspapers has not faded. By no means do I feel that I’m abandoning the industry. While some might say the industry has abandoned me, I do not feel that way. I feel incredibly lucky for the opportunities I’ve had, the challenges I’ve faced and the people I’ve worked side by side throughout the entire process.
So many great people that I wish I could just name each of them off in this column. Two people that had a great impact on love affair with media were my school advisers in middle school and high school. Linda Barnes and Joan Duc encouraged me to write and to lead a staff, first as editor my eight grade year at East Side Middle School and then my junior and senior year at Highland High School in Anderson, Indiana. I just remember having so much fun putting things together back in those days. That element of fun remained with me throughout all the years, though mixed in with the realities of business.
Media was a fun profession; maybe it still is, though I would suggest it is tougher to find the smile and laughter now than ten years ago. Declining circulation and the changes of digital world have made it a bigger challenge.
I’ve written all kinds of stories, broadcast sporting events and other community functions as well as sold countless numbers of advertising campaigns. About the only thing I haven’t done was write an obituary, and I’m not about to write one now for newspapers. Newspapers remain important to the communities they serve.
In the past few weeks, National Public Radio posted a podcast on the changes of the newspaper landscape. “Starving The Watchdog: Who Foots The Bill When Newspapers Disappear?” This podcast tackles the difficult question: What happens when newspapers are not around? A study conducted by the University of Illinois Chicago and the University of Notre Dame shows the impact; the cost of government is more where newspapers are not there to be the watchdog.
Maybe I’m just a romantic with my love of traditional media. Guilty. But the importance of institutions like the local newspaper is real and true. So my recent decision to leave media as my career was a tough choice. You hate leaving something you love, and this hasn’t been an easy decision.
I gave two weeks notice, planning to work through December 28 before moving to my next chapter. A business decision, I was allowed to leave prior to that final deadline giving me the holidays off to enjoy family and prepare for a career outside of media. My new chapter starts January 7, doing marketing for a local company that I'm very excited to join.
The decision to move on with my career doesn’t mean I’m turning my back on the local newspaper. If you read about the study I mentioned earlier, if you listened to the NPR piece and agree with their commentary, then you have an opportunity still make a difference.
Subscribe to your local newspaper, or in my case stay subscribed to the local newspaper.
No words I can say or write make the case to subscribe to your local newspaper that the words of Blake Sebring. Blake is a very good local writer in Fort Wayne; a reporter that I unfortunately had the misfortune of downsizing in September. Rather than be angry at the industry that made him unemployed days earlier, Blake made a passionate plea to help it.
Comments