Bruhman
Active Member
For those who might have an interest, this ran in today's Fort Myers, FLa. News-Press ...
http://www.news-press.com/article/20090711/COLUMNISTS06/90710037/1022/COLUMNISTS
Deron Snyder: My time here was great, but it's time to say ‘farewell’
Looking forward to adventure in D.C.
Twenty years ago, I left USA Today for a job with Gannett’s newspaper in Binghamton, N.Y., and soon thereafter began dating a friend and former co-worker, Vanessa, who was a copy editor in the building I left behind.
We married in September 1990 and spent six months as a long-distance husband-and-wife.
And that was enough of that.
I left the Press & Sun-Bulletin and returned to Washington, D.C., not knowing if I’d ever again work in journalism, just six years after graduating with a degree in the subject.
Now, I find myself in an identical situation, leaving a Gannett newspaper for Vanessa's hometown/my adopted hometown, not knowing if I’ll ever work in journalism again.
Everything worked out great the first time. I landed at USA Today Baseball Weekly within a couple of weeks and had doubled my Binghamton salary within six months.
We had a lot of faith back then.
We have even more right now.
Much has changed in the interim. Vanessa is an educator — she’ll teach at John Philip Sousa Middle School in the fall — and we have a pair of gorgeous daughters. I worked my way up to the best writing job in newspapers (columnist), and transitioned from sports to the Editorial Board, a fantastic opportunity.
But perhaps the most significant change has occurred within the industry, where thousands of journalists have been laid off and bought out recently, as the stocks crashed, the revenue plummeted and the circulation drooped.
Just this week, hundreds of Gannett employees across the nation — including some at this newspaper — suffered the latest round of “involuntary separations.”
Yours truly? Vanessa had secured a job in D.C., and I was looking to do likewise. Better if the newspaper cut me instead of an employee who really wanted to stay.
Some readers will be dismayed to learn that I wasn’t on the original list. But I spelled out my situation to the powers-that-be and this is the end result: a farewell column.
To me, this is the first fruit from my seed of faith, the opportunity to save a colleague’s job while simultaneously departing with a little something to help tide me over.
That’s a win for me and a win for that co-worker.
Whether my exit is a win for the newspaper depends on your perspective. I’ve always heard from both sides of the spectrum and always appreciated the feedback, be it good, bad or ugly.
The nasty comments upset my friends and family, but not me. I understand that it comes with the territory, a virtual badge of honor.
I read each one and never lost a minute’s sleep. As a columnist, it’s better to be read than not read, and definitely better to evoke some response than none at all.
Staying here for nine years was never part of the plan. I thought it’d be three, five at the most, before moving on.
Over the years, plenty of folks have asked why I was still here, why I wasn’t at a bigger newspaper.
Unfortunately, none of them were ever in hiring positions at a bigger newspaper.
But I leave with zero regrets. I had a great job and worked with great people. The winters here are to die for. And I’m trying to figure out a way to attend the City of Palms every December.
However, I’m extremely excited about the adventure ahead, not knowing what the future holds, but knowing full well Who holds it.
If there’s a chance to keep at least a toe in the media, I’ll take it. There’s also a sweet-looking graduate program at American University (Saturdays, 9-5 p.m., 18 months) that I’d love to enter if there’s any financial aid to be had.
The list is too long for me to mention all the people I’ll miss. So I won’t try.
After this, those who are interested can find me. I’ll still be around in cyberspace, if not on news-press.com in particular.
It has been an honor and a pleasure to write a column in Southwest Florida. Thank you for your time, your feedback and your consideration.
Here’s wishing each of you love, peace, joy, and blessings.
I’m out.
http://www.news-press.com/article/20090711/COLUMNISTS06/90710037/1022/COLUMNISTS
Deron Snyder: My time here was great, but it's time to say ‘farewell’
Looking forward to adventure in D.C.
Twenty years ago, I left USA Today for a job with Gannett’s newspaper in Binghamton, N.Y., and soon thereafter began dating a friend and former co-worker, Vanessa, who was a copy editor in the building I left behind.
We married in September 1990 and spent six months as a long-distance husband-and-wife.
And that was enough of that.
I left the Press & Sun-Bulletin and returned to Washington, D.C., not knowing if I’d ever again work in journalism, just six years after graduating with a degree in the subject.
Now, I find myself in an identical situation, leaving a Gannett newspaper for Vanessa's hometown/my adopted hometown, not knowing if I’ll ever work in journalism again.
Everything worked out great the first time. I landed at USA Today Baseball Weekly within a couple of weeks and had doubled my Binghamton salary within six months.
We had a lot of faith back then.
We have even more right now.
Much has changed in the interim. Vanessa is an educator — she’ll teach at John Philip Sousa Middle School in the fall — and we have a pair of gorgeous daughters. I worked my way up to the best writing job in newspapers (columnist), and transitioned from sports to the Editorial Board, a fantastic opportunity.
But perhaps the most significant change has occurred within the industry, where thousands of journalists have been laid off and bought out recently, as the stocks crashed, the revenue plummeted and the circulation drooped.
Just this week, hundreds of Gannett employees across the nation — including some at this newspaper — suffered the latest round of “involuntary separations.”
Yours truly? Vanessa had secured a job in D.C., and I was looking to do likewise. Better if the newspaper cut me instead of an employee who really wanted to stay.
Some readers will be dismayed to learn that I wasn’t on the original list. But I spelled out my situation to the powers-that-be and this is the end result: a farewell column.
To me, this is the first fruit from my seed of faith, the opportunity to save a colleague’s job while simultaneously departing with a little something to help tide me over.
That’s a win for me and a win for that co-worker.
Whether my exit is a win for the newspaper depends on your perspective. I’ve always heard from both sides of the spectrum and always appreciated the feedback, be it good, bad or ugly.
The nasty comments upset my friends and family, but not me. I understand that it comes with the territory, a virtual badge of honor.
I read each one and never lost a minute’s sleep. As a columnist, it’s better to be read than not read, and definitely better to evoke some response than none at all.
Staying here for nine years was never part of the plan. I thought it’d be three, five at the most, before moving on.
Over the years, plenty of folks have asked why I was still here, why I wasn’t at a bigger newspaper.
Unfortunately, none of them were ever in hiring positions at a bigger newspaper.
But I leave with zero regrets. I had a great job and worked with great people. The winters here are to die for. And I’m trying to figure out a way to attend the City of Palms every December.
However, I’m extremely excited about the adventure ahead, not knowing what the future holds, but knowing full well Who holds it.
If there’s a chance to keep at least a toe in the media, I’ll take it. There’s also a sweet-looking graduate program at American University (Saturdays, 9-5 p.m., 18 months) that I’d love to enter if there’s any financial aid to be had.
The list is too long for me to mention all the people I’ll miss. So I won’t try.
After this, those who are interested can find me. I’ll still be around in cyberspace, if not on news-press.com in particular.
It has been an honor and a pleasure to write a column in Southwest Florida. Thank you for your time, your feedback and your consideration.
Here’s wishing each of you love, peace, joy, and blessings.
I’m out.
