1.6.11 Editor’s Desk

Now that the holidays are over and we’re firmly planted into the New Year, it’s highly likely we’re all looking at a long list of resolutions for 2011.

No doubt most of those resolutions involve a new-found commitment to the gym, some healthier eating habits or possibly the exorcism of some habit deemed socially unacceptable by the masses.

But sometimes change has to come in a non-physical form, and for me that’s an even more difficult resolution to keep.

We all have specific images we keep of ourselves. I’ve always considered myself an outgoing yet slightly conservative, fun and well-liked person. I’ve been told I act older than my age, which is fine for now, and as a teen I remember making my teachers and the parents of my friends laugh.

If someone didn’t like me, I’d shrug and move on. I have never worked to hard to try to impress anyone just so they’d like me.

I’ve tried to keep that sense of humor into my adult life, but admittedly, it can be tough to hold onto it sometimes, especially when you’re in the news business. I’ve covered murder trials, traffic accidents, protests, shootings and insane elections—all of which have impacted my outlook on life in some way.

When I took journalism courses in college I was taught two very important lessons that resonate with me to this day. One, a career in journalism will not make you rich unless you land a top anchor spot on a national news program; and two, reporting the news will not always make you popular.

As a news editor for a daily newspaper several years back, I wrote a story on a horrific, fatal accidental teen shooting. The daughter of a prominent local family was killed and the gun was in the hand of her boyfriend. No matter how much care and thought I put into the story, the facts were these: the boyfriend accidentally shot his girlfriend in the chest, killing her.

News organizations are often blamed for capitalizing on tragedy to sell papers. We’re also blamed for slanting the news to favor one side more than another.

While that may be true in some circumstances, there are times were facts are just that—facts—and there’s no other way to present the information.

The landslide of calls and letters I received from that story weren’t exactly favorable. Since I wasn’t a “native” of the Florida town I was living in, I was called an outsider and an insensitive, career-seeking journalist. The facts of the story were never disputed but my intentions were questioned. Even though the entire community was talking about the tragic accident, many couldn’t understand why the paper I worked for would cover it. Our letters to the editor section was full for several weeks. It was even worse than when I gave the local production of The King and I a bad review—but that’s another story.

When you report news, the only time you usually get feedback is when someone is upset. So checking my e-mail or answering my telephone is not always my favorite pastime. But I do it and defend my position if it needs defending or offer an apology if one is necessary. Without readers and advertisers, a media company cannot exist.

So what does all of this have to do with New Year’s resolutions?

Keeping a tough skin isn’t easy. As I look forward to the next 12 months, I remind myself that sharing the news—both good and bad—is passion of mine I’ve had since I wrote my first story in my high school newspaper. As a predominant LGBT news leader in Florida, it’s even more important for Watermark to continue reporting the news accurately.

There will be stories that are difficult to write and others that will incense some readers. Some items will be light and fun to read while others will share the grim truths about an event or situation.

But in 2011, I resolve to continue informing our readers of important, sad, shameful, positive and fun news throughout the year and listening to feedback with no hard feelings.
Happy New Year.