I’ve finished my second week as editor of the Anson Record and the Richmond County Daily Journal, and I still haven’t moved into the big chair.
I’m still sitting at my desk — the same one I wrote my very first story on two years ago (this Tuesday) when I came to interview for the open reporter position at the Daily Journal — covered in newspapers, arrest warrants and local government meeting agendas.
At that point, I never thought I’d be editor. I always used to joke that I would always be poor because I didn’t want to move up or move to a large market. I’ve always been a worker bee.
When I first found out former editor Corey Friedman was leaving to take the helm in Wilson, I wasn’t interested in the position. But Richmond County has grown on me the past two years.
Being part of a team that, from what I’ve heard, helped improve the paper from what it was in the past, I felt a sense of loyalty to the readers to keep that ball rolling. I didn’t want the quality to suffer.
That happened before, when Corey, Eric Voliva and I left the Campus Communicator at Craven Community College to start our own venture, The Independent Register, in 2005.
Before I decided to throw my hat in the ring, I asked a few high-profile folks their opinion on how they thought I would do. They all answered the same, saying I would be great for the job.
Obviously, the powers that be agreed.
So here I am.
And I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Corey.
The Daily Journal was the third publication we’ve worked on together since 2002, when he joined the Campus Communicator — taking it from a newsletter to a full-fledged newspaper, fighting college censorship along the way.
It’s not often that someone has a mentor younger than themselves, but aside from being a close friend, that’s the role he’s served in my career. He taught me everything I know — from how to write a snappy lede or headline to picking out which aspect from a government meeting is the most important to lead with.
After our paper folded and we got jobs at different weekly papers — him at the Havelock News and me at the Beaufort Observer — I would still consult with him on my stories.
While we were working together here, I would often shout out questions regarding AP style, trying to find a synonym or ask the human dictionary if I was using a word in the correct context.
Now, I have to rely on Google.
Matt Harrelson joked a few days ago that we need a Corey App to get the answers to questions we would normally just blurt out or step to the office door and ask.
While he is missed, we all wish him the best of luck in the latest stop on his career path as a journalist, which began when he was still in high school.
The past two weeks have been a bit bumpy, but I’ve got both hands on the wheel, trying to keep the paper on the same road he got us down — the road of bringing local news to the people of Anson and Richmond County.
William R. Toler is editor of the Anson Record and the Richmond County Daily Journal. Reach him at 910-817-2675 or wtoler@civitasmedia.com.