While I’m nestled in Athens, Georgia, I still keep tabs on San Marcos, Texas.
How could I not? I spent nearly seven years of my life in that town.
Of particular interest to me is the quality of work my former assistant does (I’m proud of hiring him and want to see him succeed) as well as the state of my former newspaper, the San Marcos Daily Record.
Then something on their website recently caught my eye.
https://twitter.com/tylermayforth/status/585226223816671233
When I started working at the Daily Record in December 2007, my day consisted of being at the office at 7 a.m., getting everything ready for publication by 2 p.m. and then hustling out to whatever Texas State team deserved coverage that day.
Afternoon papers — and weeklies, for that matter — allow writers leeway on their deadlines. It’s a good introduction to the newspaper business for up-and-coming scribes, like I was at the time. I previously spent time at weekly shops in Lebanon, New Hampshire and Bar Harbor, Maine, so being thrust into a true daily lifestyle might have shocked my system a bit.
After a few months of morning deadlines, I honed my focus on getting ready for the next step by pushing myself to finish my work by 10 p.m. the previous night. I knew I wouldn’t be at an afternoon paper my entire career.
Lo and behold, a few years later the Daily Record sold its printing press and outsourced production to a number of different publications. At first our deadline remained the same, but once the Austin American-Statesman printed our paper, we had to get everything out at night, which allowed me that “daily feel.”
Once I became sports editor, I got my assistants on the same schedule. I wanted them to understand the consistent grind of a deadline as well.
Then in July 2014, I accepted the position with the Athens Banner-Herald.
While it felt new to work at a seven-day newspaper, the deadlines felt normal. I prepared myself for the future. A good move in hindsight.