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On leaving professional journalism
- At a glance
- This entry was written on October 16, 2009.
- The entry prior to this is entitled Recent Projects: Reporters.
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- This entry has been tagged as Newspapers, Recommended, TheOffice, Work.
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My last day at The Indianapolis Star will be a week from today.
The following Monday, I start my new job at a smaller, non-media company in the northwest corner of Indianapolis.
I’ve worked in newspapers my entire adult life: from sports writer, to (assistant) sports editor, to copy editor and page designer. Finally, on to web development.
And web development is what I will continue to do; it just won’t be with a newspaper anymore.
Most of this move is wanting to find a bit more stability, employment-wise, for my wife and 10-month-old son.
Part of it is realizing I didn’t have to be associated with a newspaper to do the journalism I want to do.
I look at FollowIndy, and I see so many additional places I want to take it, some of which run right into potential conflicts of interest so long as I work in the industry I’m at least tangentially competing with.
I will leave behind a three very good years of work, and an even better batch of people at The Star.
I’ve never worked with more talented people. Given the space and freedom, the group of people I leave behind are capable of doing absolutely amazing things, and I look forward to seeing what they do over the coming months and years.
I know it will be exciting.
So, on my way out the door, a tip of the hat to Chris Zelenak, Justin Hill, Dana Contreras, Erik Goens, John Scott and Ann Gelfius. Thank you all for three wonderful years of my life, introducing my family and I to Indianapolis, and letting me grow to the point where I feel comfortable calling myself a programmer instead of a newspaper web developer.
I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around down the line.
At least I hope so.