Columnists
Reflection
“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.” – Steve Jobs
May 1 marked three years since former owner, Rick Conroy, handed over the reins of The Times and I stepped into the Publisher/Editor/ Owner role. I still remember when he asked if I was interested. A certain sense of nervousness came over me, but, over the past seven years of working in the newsroom, I had discovered what The Times truly means to the community. Readers have come to expect a newspaper in that distinctive blue box each week—a weekly ritual of sorts. Reflecting on the past week, and looking ahead to the next. So much so that I receive panicked phone calls if the paper is even 10 minutes late arriving to its destination. Last winter, I was one of the speakers at the library’s Passion Series. The topic was meant to be about volunteers and the Wellington Recreation Committee. But, as it usually does, it warped into questions surrounding The Times. It was a proud moment to see how important these pages were to the audience.
So far, this has been an amazing, yet chaotic, endeavour. Along the way I have made plenty of mistakes and had many missteps. One of them came just last week, when I mistakenly identified an everyday goat as a sheep. And boy, did I hear about it. But, that’s a good thing. It shows me that our readers expect a certain level of quality, and mistakes such as that will not be tolerated.
There have been some stories that stick out to me over the past three years. Catching up with an old co-worker, Vern Powers, is one of them. It was a pleasure to reflect on the laughs we had, and the wisdom and work ethic Vern has instilled in me. Speaking with former Duke Aidan Girduckis about his endeavour to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health is another one. Since its launch, Ducky Brand has given back thousands of dollars to Canadian Mental Health. That particular story has been shared far and wide online. The thrill of the chase is also addicting. Tracking the story down about the shoddy work at the Wellington sea wall was a thrill. And it was satisfying to hold the company to account.
The main reason I knew this would be a great journey, was by those that I am surrounded by. Folks that have the same compassion and love for the community they live in as I do. David Simmonds keeps us on our toes each week. Conrad Beaubien can turn simple words into a poetic story. Theresa Durning walks a fine line between wittiness and seriousness. Rick Conroy gives the paper a sharp edge like no other. Lili Sullivan keeps our appetites at bay, with delicious and out of the box recipes each week. Ryan Monkman has the courage to put his feelings in front of everyone. And, he’s also a terrific cider-maker with a wealth of knowledge. Ramesh Pooran is among the best at capturing a story in an image. His photos tell a story each week and make The Times stand out above the rest. Sharon Harrison shares her passion for the garden and the beauty that grows within, but has recently taken on a larger role, and covers events and stories with precision. James Hurst keeps our sports junkies coming back for more each week. I don’t think Hursty will ever run out of stories to tell. And then there is Tim Snyder. Making us laugh some weeks, and question what is really going on around us in others. Snyder’s works also stir up the odd angry phone call or letter, which in my view, means he is doing his job perfectly.
It is also a treat to receive encouragement from those with real journalism experience, such as Trish Worron and Kevin Scanlon. Their short emails keep me going each and every week. The odd retweet from David Frum is always good for the ego as well.
Each of these folks and many others have helped make The Times a distinctive voice in the County. It is why circulation continues to rise in an era where we hear daily that “print media is dead.” It is why each and every copy is picked up by someone who made a decision to search out and pick up the paper. Independent publications are alive and well in communities such as ours where there is no shortage stories to be told. I’ve been told by some readers that they would never pick the paper up again after they read something they didn’t agree with. But then a few weeks later I will receive a note saying how much they enjoyed this week’s edition.
Most of all, being in this role has allowed me to be more involved in the community I love. A quick five minute walk down the street has turned into a half hour. I am approached by those offering praise and criticisms. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I am not sure which direction The Times will head in the next three years, but I do know that I am looking forward to another three years of sharing stories of our community.
Comments (0)