A programming note from city and politics reporter Mason Adams
In mid-December I’ll begin a new chapter in my life.
After nearly 10 years at The Roanoke Times, I’m leaving to take a job with SustainFloyd, a non profit that aims to bridge the gap between rural traditions and the 21st Century global economy.
There are inherent risks in such a career jump, and it’s not a move I’m making lightly.
For more about the why’s of this, read on below the fold.
– Mason Adams
My longtime goal since entering the journalism field in 2001 has been to secure a beat covering the large-scale changes affecting life in Appalachia. An increasingly global economy has wrought major shifts in traditional industries that once employed thousands of workers. I wanted to write about the pros and cons of those shifts and talk to people about ways to bring prosperity while preserving the quality of life in the mountains.
I came close to that goal during two years covering Franklin County, which exemplifies many of those trends. But with a newspaper industry that continues to shift and draw inward instead of expanding outward, the chances of achieving that goal seem longer than ever. I’ve also experienced a series of life changes in the last two years, marrying a wonderful woman and starting to raise a sweet, vibrant baby boy who’s now nearly eight months old.
Working for SustainFloyd offers me a hands-on chance to take on some of the issues I’ve watched for more than a decade. I’m going to work as the non profit group’s second full-time employee with a post that’s largely undefined, which leaves me the opportunity to make the most of it. The group’s work reaches back to many of the themes I’ve tried to approach in my career and personal life – most notably the balance between local culture and globalization. Much of the group’s work, whether through the farmers market, artisan trail tour or facilities to assist food and dairy producers in adding value to their products, is aimed at helping locals take advantage of regional and global opportunities.
Plus, Floyd is only about 10-15 minutes away from my house, so this change will cut nearly eight hours of commuting time each week. I plan to spend most of that extra time with my family, but I’m also picking up some extra work on the side. I can’t quite quit journalism completely, so I plan to freelance when I can.
Make no mistake: I’m bringing a journalistic approach to this new job at SustainFloyd. This is less about my ideas and more about helping the residents of Floyd County and the greater Blue Ridge Plateau. I’m hoping to learn from people at the Farm Bureau, Ruritan Clubs, Southern States and just generally just out and about. For that matter, I welcome your ideas. You can also email me at mason.j.adams [at] gmail.com.
I leave the Roanoke Times with a mighty affection both for that publication and the greater institution of journalism. The job of reporting and writing stories fit my personality in a way that no job had previously. I’ll hold close memories of people and stories.
Highlights:
– Franklin County tobacco farmer Johnny Angell and his plan to diversity his products by digging ponds to raise freshwater shrimp.
– Virginia’s role as a battleground state in the 2012 presidential campaign, including a visit by President Barack Obama, multiple visits by Mitt Romney and the chance to travel to coal country for an issue story. I also helped The Roanoke Times host two international journalists who traveled to Roanoke for 10 days to cover the final stretch of the election.
– The last stand of longtime 9th District Congressman Rick Boucher (including a look at his career) as part of the 2010 mid-term Republican wave that saw Republican challenger Morgan Griffith attack him on one of his long time strengths: Coal.
– Commercial real estate boom and bust at Smith Mountain Lake.
– I had the honor covering the life story of Army Sgt. TJ Conrad, who was killed in Afghanistan.
– Maybe the craziest story I’ve written was about the long lost 1913 Liberty Head nickel that belonged to Roanoke collector George Walton and went missing after his death. Here’s the story I wrote about it. And here’s the incredible story of what happened next (scroll down to the image of the Walton nickel and start reading there).
Thanks to everyone who’s worked with me over my time as a journalist, whether as a co-worker, a source or a friend.
It’s been a wild ride and one that I’ll always hold close to my heart.
Finally, if you’re interested in my job at The Roanoke Times covering the city and regional politics, the employment listing is here.
November 26, 2012 - 5:07 PM
The exodus of talent continues at the Roanoke Times. Good luck in you future endeavors, you will be missed.
I’m not sure how you would quantify effectiveness in a job like that, or even why it’s needed. But, I wish you good luck in your pursuits.
Mason,
Good luck with your next adventure. Now how do I convince the Times to give me your old job with no reporting experience.
GOD SPEED, Mason. You are a good man.
Best of luck to you Mason. You will be greatly missed. I hope that your replacement has your talent. I will miss your pieces that focus on history and such. Current events are available wide spread, but your little pieces brought an eclectic spin to the Caucus.
Good luck, and I look forward to reading your new endeavors.
I wish you the best of luck I. Your new cared, Mason. The themes you raise in describing the work you will be doing at SustainFloyd dovetail very well with the recent Congressional campaign of 9 th District Democratix challenger Anthony Flaccavento. I only wish that the Roanoke Times and other SW Virginia media had given more attention to his thoughtful,reality-based campaign. Efforts like SustainFloyd will succeed only when
public policy changes from favoring corporate interests and makes damaging our natural environment and short hanging our hardworking 99 per cent ultimately unprofitable.
@1 Art Hill:
I appreciate the nice words, but I’d argue that there’s as much if not more talent coming in the doors at the Roanoke Times than there is going out. The newsroom not only has several key long-timers who carry a lot of institutional knowledge, but it’s also been flush with a cadre of enthusiastic young reporters and staffers who have really thrown themselves into the business.
The Roanoke Times has always served as a stepping stone for ambitious reporters (like Monica Davey who covered the Jens Soering trial and then went on to work for the New York Times, or more recently Katelyn Polantz who briefly covered Roanoke County before getting hired at PBS NewsHour), and I suspect you’ll see some of the reporters here now eventually end up at larger publications.
I’m regularly impressed by the energy and skills that these newer reporters bring to the business. They not only can report and write — they can shoot photos, edit video and write computer code. The newspaper business as a whole is having a tough time right now, but I think they’ve got a bright future.
– Mason Adams
Best of luck to you Mason, you will be missed; and your kind words about the other RT reporters and editors is a truly selfless and gentlemanly thing to say. Your dad would be very proud of you right now IMO.
Mason, let’s get together for a birding hike soon and talk about all this. You are a very talented guy and Floyd County is lucky to win your services. Best of luck. Rupe Cutler
Mason:
Just heard that you were leaving the paper. I know they’re sorry to see you go. Best of luck in your new venture. It sounds like a great opportunity. It was good seeing and talking with you this summer.
Rich