As a small town (dare I say) journalist of an online newspaper I’m always looking for interesting stories and local events that I think readers will enjoy. I cover the county fair each year, Christmas parades, school events, and many other positive community articles. I’ve expanded to meet the demands of our readers with breaking news stories, reporting arrests, wrecks, fires, and more. Something I honestly didn’t imagine doing when I started out but it brought in readers. Sometimes my job hasn’t always been an easy one. I’ve learned to live on less sleep, more coffee, frequent phone calls, and to develop a tougher skin when it comes to some of the negatives that come along with covering stories that often aren’t that flattering for those involved. It can become a little awkward when you are related to the suspect in an arrest article to say the least. I’ve also learned to speak up more about issues that concern me as a citizen which is something I believe we all should do.
In a big city, the press is insulated from those individuals who don’t like their loved ones arrest posted online or what they believe is negative article . In small communities, it’s often up close and personal. I can’t shy away from reporting basic news in fear of offending those close to the story. That would be the quickest way to ruin my credibility. I’m still learning how to navigate these rough waters.