Pens, paper and pain ...

Today was a sad day for journalism in Seattle. Apparently settling the JOA situation with the rival P-I didn't help as much as we hoped it would, because due to our dire financial situation, The Times announced 200 company-wide layoffs, as well as the closure of the North and Eastside bureaus. Thirty of the layoffs will be in the newsroom; 16 involuntary and 14 voluntary, through buyouts.

Fortunately, my almost four years of seniority saved me, but I still felt a pang of sadness. (And one of congestion, too. I hate being sick.) It was deja vu of 2004, when I was supposed to have lost my job. Fortunately, enough people took buyouts back then that the remaining residents were saved, and for that, I will always be grateful to those who sacrificed their livelihoods for the good of the paper. Whether it was their intent or not, they saved a generation of young journalists. And I intend to make the most of it -- for another 26 years or so. ;-)

And on a side note, I could totally do without all of the snotty comments from other newspapers (if you can even call some of them such a thing) -- it's not like we haven't all had down times. The industry as a whole isn’t exactly doing well, lest they forget.

The recent retirement of one of the senior editors, who had been at The Times for 25 years, really got me thinking. It's sad -- and somewhat scary -- to see the people who have molded the paper into what it is today starting to hang up their fedoras (OK, journalists don't really wear fedoras these days, but they are kind of cool ... I wonder if I could find a pink one if they make a comeback?) and putting down their red pens and notebooks. What will The Seattle Times be without those who made it The Seattle Times?

And furthermore, with the way the industry is going, how long will there even be a (white paper, black ink) newspaper? I have no doubt that there will always be a need for journalists, but in what capacity? They're going to have to cancel "Desperate Housewives," and bring Teri and Dean back for "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Cyberman." The shifting trends in the industry don't bother me much -- I guess I should just consider myself lucky that I'm Internet savvy -- but I also don't want the integrity of journalism to be compromised as we forge new frontiers.

And speaking of the Internet, and on a more positive note, I am extremely proud to be the winner of two 2008 Kerth Awards. In addition to winning "Best Super Short Story" for "Southern Nights," I also won the highly-sought-after "Best New Author" award. I can't even begin to explain what an honor it is. When my name was announced, I burst into tears. I had such a horrible year last year that winning BNA means more than I ever thought it could. I dedicated my win to my friends who provided me feedback, support and, on many occasions, a shoulder to cry on.

In your darkest hours, it's nice to have people who make you feel like you're worth something. But, as one of my favorite quotes go, "you're only as good as your next story," so back to the drawing board I go. Arbor Day, anyone? ;-)