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Friday, March 29, 2024

From a last place finish to newspaper publisher – My path to Wrightsville Beach

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My journey to Wrightsville Beach started after I crossed the finish line dead last.

Exhausted, having just run four miles between the piers and paddleboarded who knows how far, I had finally finished the Wrightsville Beach Biathlon in March 2015. I hadn’t planned on competing in the event when I came here that week; it was a whim, an adventurous way to kick off an uncertain new period in my life.

But there I was, the race’s loser, being interviewed by a newspaper reporter. Imagine my surprise. It seemed the tale of my Craigslist acquisition of a Union Jack themed paddleboard for the race was just the colorful anecdote that a resourceful reporter like Emmy Errante was looking to add to her coverage for some local newspaper called Lumina News.

It would have been beyond my wildest imagination to think that day that I would one day be writing a column introducing myself as the publisher of this publication, but that is indeed what I’m doing.

I was fascinated that there was a local reporter there and after our interview, we chatted for a few minutes about her work. You see, I had once been a local newspaper reporter, very much like Emmy, going to events, asking questions, snapping pictures, telling the story.

That 2015 trip to Wilmington was the final act in a three-year commitment I made to help take care of my father in Jacksonville, Fla. while he battled Alzheimer’s Disease until his February death. I was in Wilmington, my father’s hometown, to help my mother handle his final affairs. After that, I was a “free agent,” so to speak. I could practically go anywhere I wanted, I was not there to start a new journey in my life, but my conversation with Emmy on that beautiful, breezy Wrightsville Beach Saturday afternoon unquestionably prompted my first steps.

Two things happened when I went back to Jacksonville following that experience. First, I told everybody about being interviewed by the newspaper. Everybody. And even though it was posted online, I called Lumina News and had copies of the print paper sent to me, so I could show people. It shows the power of a printed newspaper, which I am committed to try to keep.

The other thing was that I started applying for newspaper reporting jobs, especially if they were by the beach. Talking with Emmy reminded me of how much I loved the work.  Running the biathlon reminded me of how much I love the beach and the water.

And then, a short time later, there it was. An online post advertising for the Lumina News news director position. Of course I applied, catching the attention of publisher Pat Bradford through a series of interviews.

In July of 2015, nearly four months later, I went from being interviewed by Lumina News to managing its news department, a new role that came with both awesome responsibilities and exciting opportunities.

From that point, I absorbed Wrightsville Beach. I learned to paddlesurf here and built a lifestyle around enjoying the outdoors as often as possible. And I wrote and wrote and wrote about the things going on here. In the process, I fell in love with the place, while also rekindling my passion for journalism.

After building an award-winning publication, Pat was ready to focus the talents she’s developed in nearly 20 years of local publishing into Wrightsville Beach Magazine, where her passion lies. The newspaper industry was changing and Lumina News needed someone with fresh ideas. Was I ready for this challenge?

To be here in Wrightsville Beach, to write about the stories and the adventures that the open, warm and friendly people here enjoy every day. You bet I’m ready.

But it will be a challenge. Over the next few months, I will be working to introduce new content ideas for the print publication, the website and the social media channels. I will be looking to speak more with readers of our publication to see what new directions I can take it.

One commitment I will make is to keep the news local. To start, the content will mostly focus on the area I term “greater Wrightsville Beach,” which includes Country Club of Landfall, Mayfaire, Bradley Creek and other nearby locations.

Another commitment, at least for now, is that I don’t intend to offer opinionated commentary here. There’s a good reason for this, as I will be doing most of the reporting for the newspaper, and it would not be fair for me to offer commentary on the events I’m actively covering. I also won’t be writing much on national issues. Lumina News is a local paper.

Over time, my goal is to expand the reach of Lumina News, starting with more coverage of the entire Cape Fear coastal region, followed by more on local arts, entertainment and recreation. Expect to see more stories on fishing, boating, boarding, birding and other activities that are so common to see around here.

Over my time at Lumina News, I began to notice how our online audience responds to our news coverage. Our readers love the beach and they love the town. But I want to know more about what our readers want us to cover. During the next few weeks, I’ll be talking with many of you about ideas. Or don’t hesitate to contact me at (910) 719-9180 or [email protected], I would love to hear your ideas.

And now off to the business of newspapering. It’s going to be a lot of work. It’s going to be a lot of fun. But I can’t wait to get started.

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