Read on Twitter
This is my last day at the Abbotsford News and, in all likelihood, in newspapers. (I'll still be a journalist hereabouts so.) Sorry (I'm not sorry), but I have Things To Say.
2. Working on a paper is awesome not in spite of the medium’s limitations but because of them. The deadlines and requirement to create a new publication every ___ produces drama, fun and a sense of accomplishment that's rare.
3. If you get stuck in a newsroom with people you (usually) like, it really can be like being on a sports team. Everyone contributes in their own way. It’s a group endeavour and one that I’m really going to miss.
4. The last couple years, this industry has been leaking journalists faster than it can replace them for lots of reasons (including the job being less fun w/ less people). Nevertheless, there are jobs to be had and I generally think it’s not a horrible time to enter the industry
5. But it’s definitely a weird time. I’m happy to see, though, is the influx of young, exciting, brilliant and diverse voices who will power the next wave of journalism, even as I worry on-job training is harder to get than it once was.
6. Twitter is useless for many things, but it’s terrific for admiring the work of journalists whose stories you would never have been aware of 15 years ago. (It's also great for compliments!) So, let’s talk about some of my colleagues you should be following on here and in print.
Here at The News, @BenLypka and @VikkiHopes will continue holding down the fort. This superb column from Ben ( https://www.abbynews.com/trending-now/do-you-remember-sparkle-the-christmas-light/)
and this remarkable story by Vikki show what make them each great writers. ( https://www.abbynews.com/news/abbotsford-man-breaks-back-drags-body-through-forest-for-three-days-until-rescued/)
and this remarkable story by Vikki show what make them each great writers. ( https://www.abbynews.com/news/abbotsford-man-breaks-back-drags-body-through-forest-for-three-days-until-rescued/)
8. Back when I was proofing pages at the Chilliwack Times, I would always be excited when my editor snagged a column by The Langley Times' consistently great Matthew Claxton @ouranosaurus. He is a jack-of-all-trades, but you should also subscribe to his science fiction newsletter
9. In Chilliwack, @CHWKcommunity has proven herself to a rock, @PeeJayAitch turned my old court beat into his empire, @CHWKjourno follows fish closer than most and @ProgressSports is one of the province's best sports feature writers.
10. I left @PhotoJennalism out of there for a reason. In a world that's lost a lot of the photography that once documented life here, she produces consistently stunning images vital to telling the story of the city. We need more photography.
11. Speaking of which, I've taken and seen a lot of goddamn photos in B.C. newspapers. When @aaron_hinks took this one, it immediately struck me as probably the best breaking news shot I've seen. https://www.surreynowleader.com/photo-galleries/one-year-later-looking-back-on-the-storm-that-broke-the-white-rock-pier/
12. @laurenpcollins1 and @portmoodypigeon are among the crop of newer reporters in the Lower Mainland who this region needs to stay informed. We're in good hands, even if we need more of those hands.
13. In Agassiz, @gracekenn is quietly one of the most-talented reporters in the province. Look at this story about a guy picking four-leaf clovers! In her temporary absence the last year, @adamEditor18 has been a life-saver. https://www.theprogress.com/community/the-luckiest-man-in-agassiz-finds-more-than-200-four-leaf-clovers/
14. I'm less familiar with everything happening on the Island, which might as well be a different province. But the crews up and down that chunk of rock are great. On here, you should keep tabs on @devonscarlett, @NinaGrossman, @TravisAPaterson, @ErinHaluschak & @NicoleCrescenzi
15. @KamThisWeek, which isn't owned by our company but I'm not a Company Man anyway: Trying to keep up with @timpetruk helped push my writing forward, @KTWjess is a great city reporter, @MarTheReporter just won a Webster & @timshoults is a publisher who cares about journalism.
15a. @chrisfoulds helms that shop, which always seemed from the outside like it would be a fun and challenging place to work. I don't really get his obsession with the Lions, but that's OK.
16. In Kelowna, @MichaelRdrguez and @twilamam have shown themselves to be extremely adaptable and smart reporters. Ditto for @newspaperphil in Penticton and @caitleerach & @brendanshykora in Vernon. (I'm leaving out those who aren't often on Twitter b/c I'm at 16 tweets already.)
17. And in Nelson, that hub has one of the best feature writers in the province in @tyler_harper. If you've never read this one, make some time and check out this story, which is probably the best I've seen in any local paper in B.C. https://www.nelsonstar.com/community/pineapple-man-limbos-into-the-sunset/
18. Cranbrook: @tcrawls is tasked with covering a huge amount of stuff. He consistently digs up stuff interesting enough to grab the eye not only of locals, but of some schlub at a desk in the Fraser Valley. https://www.nelsonstar.com/community/pineapple-man-limbos-into-the-sunset/
19. As workhorses go, @katslepian is possibly unmatched, producing so many good stories, it's hard to keep up. She's one half of this company's digital backbone, without which A LOT falls apart.
20. The other half of that is @ashwadhwani. Anyone in our company can speak to her supreme competence and ability. She's the type of leader journalism needs. Wherever she goes, she'll be responsible for most of the good stuff & preventing all sorts of bad stuff.
21/21. That's it. I've certainly inadvertently forgotten some names that should be at the top of my list. Fill in excuse here. ( @ngreenizan, for example, smartly has a locked account) There are also many others whose work I will see in a day or a week and who will leave me in awe
22/21: Finally since the one thing we all have in common is this website, something I've learned that anyone can use: The single best use of Twitter is for complimenting people who deserve compliments. So use it for that. Makes everyone happy.
