It’s been a good year, but let’s make 2009 a better one

Even though I have yet to reach the one-year mark here at the News Journal (I will do so Feb. 1 of 2009), I feel like it is safe to say that the past year here has been the most valuable one to me yet as a reporter.

For the previous three years, I had spent my time roaming the various sports venues of the Tri-County area, solely reporting on local high school athletes and taking an occasional photo for news purposes. With that said, when the opportunity to expand into the news side of reporting at this paper came about, I couldn’t help myself.

My wife warned me that the change may be a shock to my system, since I was a sports junkie to say the least, but I was determined I could adapt and get my sports fix on the weekend without missing a beat.

It was a risk I felt was worth taking.

Thank goodness the fine folks here at the News Journal (Don Estep and Jim McAlister) were willing to let me help out in sports, basically when I wanted to, and as I was needed, according to what was going on that particular week. I guess you could say that coming to the News Journal was a win-win situation for me.

I still was able to go see local athletes, while learning the craft of news-writing at the same time.

As for the switch, no more staying at work until two in the morning and no more working six days a week on some occasions, and almost always during the holiday season. Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a sports writer and I will never forget some of the good times shared with fellow sports guys both at home and on the road.

Now that I sit back and think about it, despite those fond memories of the past three years, the move was really a no-brainer for me.

Since coming to the News Journal, I have learned quite a bit from my fellow reporters, Trent Knuckles and Mark White. Considering the two of them have been around here writing news since Moses was roaming the streets, they have a lot of knowledge (and a little nonsense) to pass on and I am grateful for some of the things they have taught me.

I am also thankful to everyone who was willing to work with me as I tried to do my job. The things we have to write about aren’t always the most popular subjects in the public’s eyes, but that’s the nature of the beast I guess.
News isn’t always good news, but it still has to be reported and that’s our job.

I have rambled on enough and I guess I will get to my point. As usual, the new year brings with it the many resolutions we will all make and hopefully try to keep throughout the next 12 months.

I have never been one to set unrealistic goals for myself or anyone else, so I will once again keep it simple for 2009.
I hereby resolve to do my best to try and be first and foremost a better person, because no one is perfect and we all have room for improvement. I will also strive to be a better reporter. Not only for my employer, (or for a possible raise in the next six months) but for our readers. You guys pay for a subscription and you deserve the best we have to offer.

Finally, I really want to try and report more good news than bad this year. I know there will be plenty of fatal car crashes, burglaries, thefts and whatever else that comes about, but I want to focus on some good news.
There is plenty of gloom and doom on the national front, so I am officially on the lookout for some feel-good stories. So, if you have any ideas, you know where to find me.
Happy New Year everyone!