ROCKINGHAM – It’s hard to put into words the overwhelming joy I felt in early August when I accepted the position of managing editor at the Richmond Observer.
Becoming editor literally “fell” into my lap just over six months ago, and I was ecstatic then. But that initial feeling is no comparison to how I feel about the RO’s future successes in 2018.
In early August, I was enjoying the last bit of summer vacation at the beach with friends and family before having to return to my eighth grade ELA classroom at Ellerbe Middle School. And then it happened; my phone buzzed in my pocket, a detailed phone call and a short while later, I was awarded the privilege of running Richmond County’s newest, and currently, most-read news source.
And while I could try to explain how I often surprise myself how I’m able to manage 80 eighth graders and all the joys of teaching every day, coupled with running a successful up-and-coming digital news outlet, and operate my marriage and social life, I’d think I’d really be trying to convince myself how I do it. So, I’ll spare you.
But since its inception and official launch on July 1, 2017, the Richmond Observer has quickly become Richmond County’s most-read daily news. With nearly 6,000 unique readers a day, the RO has also eclipsed 12,000 downloads for its free Apple and Android app.
When you think about it, that’s quite a bit of people for a rural community. So, how’d we get to this point?
The honest answer is you, the reader. Without the support of thousands of local citizens wanting the news they deserve, the RO, and all of its platforms, would not be a success. I know it sounds cliché, but it’s true. In order for something to work, in any facet of life, it needs love and support. And that is what the constituents of Richmond County, in more ways than I can express, have done for myself and the publication I manage.
When I sit back at my desk and look at the daily readership numbers, and the likes and shares on Facebook, and the overwhelming amount of support we’ve received from so many members of the community, I can say that this is everything that’d I’d hoped it to be.
When I accepted the managing editor position, I’ll be honest, I was naïve. Yes, I’d written for several large publications, including the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. But I never had the fate of a publication in the palm of my hands.
And through a quick learning curve, and advice from seasoned professionals, mentors and family, I’m proud to say that what the RO and its staff is doing is a tremendous thing for our community.
At this end of this month, I’ll have lived in Richmond County for three years. My wife, Jordyn, and I are both middle school teachers, and we absolutely love going to our classrooms each day. But the truth is, it’s hard to be roughly 500 miles away from our families, who live in Pennsylvania.
And while you may not know it, a lot of people, both in and out of county, expected us to leave after a few years of teaching and return home. But I’ll be honest with you, we don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon. And the reason for that is because we’ve found a home in the tremendous community of Richmond County.
It’s a lot different than the hustle and bustle of Pittsburgh that I was used to. My office there was in a towering building overlooking PNC Park and Heinz Field. My RO office is on a quiet street in a town, and county, that is building its own hustle and bustle. And for that, I’m thankful and excited to see come to fruition.
This year is the year of the Richmond Observer; you heard it here first.
It may seem like a bold statement, but I truly believe in what the co-owners, Lance Jenkins and Kenny Melvin, are doing with our publication. They’ve invested a lot of time and resources to get the RO off the ground and into the position it is today.
And of course, our contributors cannot be discounted. No one on the RO writing staff is a full-time employee. We all work other jobs and deliver the news as a way to give back. Without them and their diligence and compassion, our product wouldn’t be nearly as successful.
Original programming has also been a key part of our success. Live at 5, the RO’s flagship nightly news program, which debuted in August, is the first regular news broadcast in Richmond County’s extensive history. On Monday, January 22, the RO’s daily talk radio show Good Morning Sandhills will launch. And in February, the RO Sports Show will debut. And that’s just the beginning.
One thing that I’ve learned about living in a small, tight-knit community is that you know a lot of people. And as editor, it’s propelled me into the public’s eye, something I wasn’t used to at first. But I’m flattered when I’m recognized at the grocery store or at a restaurant by someone and thanked for what I’m doing.
Recently I received a message from an admired person in our community. In the note, the person called my wife and I a “blessing” to Richmond County. While that certainly made me realize that what we’re doing as educators and with the RO is in fact a terrific thing, it made me realize something else: that we are blessed to live in a community dedicated to giving something a chance.
And with that, I’ll close in saying that I am proud of the Richmond Observer’s growth over its first six months. It’s been taxing at times, personally, but worth every late night or early morning. I ask that you, our valued readers, will continue reading and supporting this publication.
I promise this is the year of the Richmond Observer and hope you’ll join us on our journey in bringing bigger and better things to Richmond County.
