Tag: Athens Banner-Herald

Clark Kent Left the Daily Planet

On August 16, 2015

Goodnight, sweet prince. You served me well for more than one year at the Banner-Herald.

It started to hit me when I turned off my computer for the last time at the Athens Banner-Herald. Rarely did I turn it off before (mostly logged out), but it felt right.

Once I walked out the door and it shut behind me, the realization hit like a truck.

That very well could have been my final day in newspapers. Not for the week. Not for the month — but for life. Nearly eight years in the business and then cold turkey.

What I felt wasn’t remorse, because I accomplished what I set out to do. My first and only goal that I can remember in journalism was to become a college beat writer by the time I was 25. I accomplished that when I accepted my second full-time job at the ripe age of 22.

I grew exponentially — not only as a worker, but as a person — from the time I started my foray into journalism with the Connecticut Valley Spectator in New Hampshire its endpoint at the Banner-Herald. In between, the now-defunct Bar Harbor Times in Maine and the San Marcos Daily Record in Texas (where I achieved that aforementioned goal) served as strong launching pads.

Journalism will always have my heart but I knew there was something out there for me, which is why I looked elsewhere and eventually found my current job with the United States Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association.

And what is life without adventure? Thanks to journalism I’ve been able to live in three states and the skills I honed in Texas led me on a path to New Orleans. Plus, those skills I honed, which included my multimedia chops and page design, among others, allowed me to become a versatile worker who can plug and play anywhere.

Near the end of my run in Athens, I thought I put out some good work. Here are two designs I thought turned out really well. It’s funny how you hit a stride at the end.

Monday's front page for @ABHSports — Winning the Atlanta Open is as easy as 1, 2, 3 for John Isner. @APSE_sportmedia pic.twitter.com/ZdMtEyafBX

— Tyler Mayforth (@tylermayforth) August 3, 2015

And thus begins another football season in Athens. Here is Wednesday's front page of @ABHSports. @APSE_sportmedia pic.twitter.com/JJNKIGHydL

— Tyler Mayforth (@tylermayforth) August 5, 2015

On the Move Again: Hello, New Orleans

By Tyler Mayforth

On August 5, 2015

In Life Happenings, Life Stuff

A little more than two years ago I drove to New Orleans, nervous but excited.

As it turns out, not much changes in the span of 859 days.

Back in 2013, I decided to attend WrestleMania 30 by myself. I had never been to The Big Easy, let alone stepped out of my comfort zone that much. As I opened my mind to what could happen and the overall experience, I began to reap the rewards. Not only did I see one of the best WrestleMania cards of all-time, I truly liked what I saw of New Orleans. There was an indescribable charm and buzz surrounding it all.

Next Tuesday I head back to New Orleans. This time, however, will be for keeps.

I turned in my resignation at the Athens Banner-Herald on Monday.

In two weeks, I’ll continue my career as communications assistant for the U.S. Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

I need to pause a second to read those two sentences again. These past two weeks have been a whirlwind, to say the least. Life happens when you truly least expect it.

This will be my fourth move since August 2007, as you can see on the above graphic. I’ll be retracing 540 of the 1,208 miles I traversed when I moved last July from San Marcos, Texas to Athens, Georgia. If you’re counting at home, which I am sure you are, this trip from Athens to New Orleans will put me at 4,622 lifetime miles moved.

I’ll have my dad with me again to help, just like I did when I went up to Maine as well as my trip from Texas to Georgia. These trips allow us to grow closer, which is great.

There are a million things running through my mind at the moment, but I felt it was a good idea to break this news on my blog. Check back in the upcoming days, because I’m sure I’ll have more to say about this truly great opportunity I have in front of me.