I am back in the newspaper game.

Almost 14 years ago, I was one of many people Transcontinental threw out of work when the flyer-printing conglomerate abruptly shut down The Daily News where I had worked for almost 18 years.

It was a powerful gut punch. I was happy to see so many former colleagues find work at other newspapers across Canada, but moving away from Halifax was not an option for me. It was a tough time, but I found other work and eventually got back into journalism after an ill-advised venture into the government communications field.

After leaving public service, I freelanced for six years. I loved the freedom of being my own boss, but the market deteriorated and it became tougher to support a family on a freelancer’s income. So, three-and-a-half years ago, I joined CTV Atlantic to work on their website and things were looking up. It was great to be back in a newsroom, but then even that was taken away as the pandemic forced me to work from home for the last 18 months. The camaraderie of a newsroom is amazing. I’m sure some other workplaces have something similar, but I’ve never experienced anything quite like it and I missed it.

Now, the pandemic that took something away from me has created a new opportunity, one that I didn’t think would ever be available.

I want to live in Nova Scotia because this is where my family is and I love the ocean, but I have never stopped wanting to work for a newspaper.

In two weeks, I’ll be joining the Postmedia team as a copy editor and working remotely. I am thrilled about this opportunity and I look forward to this next chapter in my career, even though it might be the last.

In some ways, I feel like a blacksmith at the end of the 19^th century. I know the newspaper industry has been in a steady decline because of dwindling revenues, but there will always be a need for good journalism whether it be print, digital, or broadcast.

Nowadays, I admire the fine workmanship of blacksmiths who keep the craft alive. They take pride in their work because it takes skill and years of training to become good at it.

There will always be a need for people like that.

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