Editor’s Note

Reflecting on the journey from reporter to new role as editor

NEW LATEST JAN 25 2016 AUSTIN WELLS — Austin Wells, Editor

(ROCKWALL, TX – May 5, 2016) This good news just in: after a couple years serving Rockwall County as Blue Ribbon News’ most awesome reporter, I look forward to serving it in my brand new role as editor. That’s right, friends. You’re looking at the new editor of our print edition and online news site, BlueRibbonNews.com, and I couldn’t be more excited!

Four years ago, when I graduated from UNT, I admittedly would have never dreamed that one day I would be the editor of a newspaper, let alone the editor at a print and digital media company that has become our community’s number one source for good news, entertainment and events. Blue Ribbon News has grown significantly since Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Dawn Redig launched it in 2011. As she continues to oversee the publication and develop new and innovative ways of delivering meaningful, community-centric content, she’s entrusted me with her “baby” as it continues to grow.

A starving artist with several half-finished screenplays and ideas for novels tucked away in the deep confines of a closet or dresser drawer was the image that came to my mind whenever I pictured my future. Journalism was never something I felt was a strong suit of mine, until I took a couple classes and volunteered for a brief time writing for the campus newspaper. I realized then how stimulating and challenging covering a beat could be, and loving writing as much as I did (and still do and always will for that matter) I decided journalism could be a fulfilling career choice for me, since it requires doing what I love on a daily basis.

A couple months after graduation – in a newly-landed gig as a reporter for a local paper – I quickly began to realize my strengths and weaknesses as a journalist. Being the introvert I was, I found myself terrified at the prospect of having to conduct phone or in-person interviews for stories, and more inclined to covering meetings or big events where I could hide in the shadows taking pictures and recording guest speakers for quotes. But the more I attended these meetings and events, the more comfortable I became as a reporter, and soon those face-to-face interviews didn’t seem so scary. In fact, I discovered that I had somewhat of a knack for getting people to open up, which is slightly ironic coming from a guy who would hardly open up to anyone about anything. Now, I practically live to write feature stories, those stories spotlighting unique individuals or organizations, and I’ve had the tremendous privilege of working for a paper that likewise lives to spotlight good people and organizations throughout Rockwall County.

But I have some big shoes to fill as the editor for Blue Ribbon News. Ever since I came on board, Dawn has been an incredible mentor to me, and I’m stoked to see her become my Editor-in-Chief. Dawn, I know I’m taking over your baby, but with your guidance and oversight I’m confident that this publication will only continue to grow and remain the number one source for good news in Rockwall County.

Of course, Blue Ribbon News couldn’t be what it is without the incredible support of our readers. And since I’m only one man and haven’t figured out how to be everywhere at once (although some might say I’m quite close), I need your help in relaying all of the good things happening in the county. So feel free to shoot me an email at austin@blueribbonnews.com or give me a ring at 214-534-1851 if you have some positive stories or events to share, and remember to keep the good news coming!

By Austin Wells, Blue Ribbon News Editor.