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.
