Transitions

I started out my journalism career in newspapers many years ago. Back then, newspapers seemed vibrant and healthy. I thought a career in newspapers promised interesting assignments, the opportunity for advancement, and a secure future. Obviously, my timing was off. After a couple of years, Gannet folded the evening newspaper I worked for. I was offered a part-time position on Gannet’s morning paper in the same city, but that didn’t pay enough to feed the dogs so I took another path and went into magazines. My magazine career has been, to say the least, varied. I ran the United Mine Workers Journal for a couple of years, until the guy who hired me was voted out of office. Then I was an assistant editor at the Journal of Forestry until I got heartily sick of juried publications. After knocking around for a couple of years doing freelance work, I wound up at Quick Printing and have been here ever since. Throughout my journalism career, I have been saddened by the demise of so many publications, whether newspapers or magazines. Even when Instant and Small Commercial Printer folded it was a little poignant—even though it was satisfying to be the survivor of that head-to-head battle. I got that same feeling when it was announced that Graphic Arts Monthly was being shut down. We have outlasted another rival, but another publication has bitten the dust. But, after a brief moment of reflection, it’s time to get back to work to make sure we never join the ranks of the dearly departed. Hope to see you at the On Demand show or somewhere else down the road.