Toward the end of my time in Federal Way, the job was routine. The to-do list was infinite. I did what needed to be done, and I did what I wanted to do.
The adjustment in Olympia is the specialization, so to speak. In Olympia, one reporter handles crime, while another covers business, and another tackles the school district. I cover everything else about Olympia. What's interesting is that all those other "beats" are intertwined with the community fabric. The challenge is to find my place in the machine and help maximize output. The other reporters own their beats. I must learn the best way to own mine.
One thing I've learned in my career is that the newspaper must act as a catalyst for community discussion. If the community is talking about an issue I've written about, then I consider that article a success. I've got a couple of ideas to riff on, and I hope they keep the city talking.
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