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So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye
Ready your cameras, followers of newspapers' slow and steady descent. I'm a rare species in the industry: a journalist flying the coop on his own terms.It's been a memorable two and a half years writing for the paper I grew up reading, but it's time to move on.
And luckily, unlike many desperate reporters and editors now turning to anything but journalism to make ends meet, I actually landed a job in the field. Starting May 26, I'll be writing about military and homeland security technology for National Defense Magazine. The job excites me, but, surprisingly enough, leaving newspapers is tougher than I thought.
But first, a little about me.
I was born in Leesburg, and grew up in Sterling Park. I attended Sully Elementary and Sterling Middle, and tossed my cap at Park View High School. Wow, the school was spanking new back in the mid-'80s. Hi, Coach Thompson. I was one of your regulars at in-school detention.
Outside the school, I slung hash (not kidding, real hash) at my mom's Sterling Park restaurant, Muriel's. I miss you, Bernie. In addition, just before my senior year, I spent the summer ripping tickets at the now-defunct Town Center Cinemas, also in Sterling near Dranesville Road. Tad, you were a great boss.
But back to the Loudoun Times-Mirror. I arrived here in November 2006 in the midst of the vastly divisive rural rezoning debate. Remember the Staton Plan?
Heck, at the time, I had never heard of the villages Lincoln or Philomont. And I might have thought Lovettsville was in Maryland. Needless to say, I was green on the goings-on in my own county.
But I persevered, and (I think) thrived in my role as county government reporter. I broke my fair share of stories, and got beaten to the punch on a couple others. I remember a few uncomfortable phone calls from Chairman Scott York on a story or two that I wrote.
Yes, I'm grateful to still be in journalism, but I'll dearly miss newspapers. I'm already resigned to the fact that I'll probably never work at one again – at least not at one with a print edition.
Still, I'll always have my thoroughly yellowed clips to soothe me. I intend to give them to my son someday. I just hope when that time comes, I won't have to explain to him what they are.
Farewell.
i know how much you have enjoyed this path. it is sad to me that newspapers might be gone... how will we know what is happening locally, in our communities? scary thought. i am most proud of your business page, great stories, and layout. i wish you all the best!
Posted by mgx
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Jacks departs!!!!!! We will miss you tons, and I know the LTM community will as well. You have been a great part of this team and no one can fill those shoes! Stay in touch ;)
Posted by S_Ecoe
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Thanks! And you can beat I'll be trolling the Web for Loudoun stories.
Posted by S_Jjacks
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It's been a pleasure working with you Jason. Best of luck with the defense magazine.
Posted by S_Clukat
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