Just as I was getting used to being mistaken for a Pepperdine student all over town, the time has come for me to leave my post as managing editor of this fine publication. My last day here is March 4.
There is no single word I can choose to describe the nearly three years I’ve spent working at The Malibu Times, but I leave a better person because of it.
Nearly three years ago, my predecessor Knowles Adkisson took a chance and hired me straight out of college, with a superficial semblance of how “the real world” worked. And while I don’t think I was wholly unprepared, I sure had a lot to learn. Not just about journalism, but about people, relationships, politics and community. Malibu has been the perfect place to do that. I started as the City Hall reporter and slowly worked my way up from there, helping take our online news coverage to the 24/7 cycle and creating a steady social media following.
Along the way, I gained the trust and respect of countless individuals who I’m glad to say will remain my friends long after I’ve left Malibu.
There aren’t many towns or small-town papers where one can cover the release of rehabilitated sea lions and elephant seals, watch sparks fly between disaffected residents and staunch City Council members, and attend insane fundraisers where The Wallflowers casually perform with Minnie Driver, and Julia Roberts and Danny Moder chat with you about the commercialization of Malibu. Somehow, I’ve been lucky enough to experience that and more during my time here.
My biggest gratitude goes to Knowles and Arnold York. Arnold’s column garners mixed reviews around town, but those who work with him know a different side. He and Karen York are two of the brightest and strongest people around. They’ve endured and continue enduring challenges, but never hesitate to face things head-on. Arnold’s fervor for learning everything and anything about political and legal issues is inspiring — sometimes overwhelming — but I hope to have some fraction of his energy and dedication.
As for the goings-on in Malibu, it’s been disappointing to witness the animosities between embattled groups and elected officials, but the crux of it is, I think, people just don’t always listen to one another. Once an opinion is decided, there’s no going back on one’s words and they can’t be convinced otherwise. That’s one part of today’s political culture that I think gets us nowhere. On the flip side, though, it was fascinating and remarkable to see the issue of formula retail evolve from locals pounding the pavement to pulling out the big guns and getting a ballot initiative passed. The same goes for Craig Foster’s campaign, which overcame a huge hurdle in getting Santa Monicans on the same page, ready for some new blood on the Board of Education. Malibu is also one of the few towns where just about every federal, state and county government agency has some sort of stake. I get exhausted just listing them off.
As for my next chapter, I’m taking a break from journalism to work in social media for Yahoo! Sports in Santa Monica.
“You like sports?” many people have asked after hearing the news.
Yes, yes I do. Just ask the nine Dodgers bobbleheads I keep at my desk.
The paper is now left in the incredibly capable hands of Sarah Shmerling (features and sports editor), Tracy Wright (web and social media editor), Emily Sawicki (news editor) and Julie Ellerton (multimedia director). Beyoncé (my flawless inspiration/hero/queen of everything) is completely correct in hypothesizing that girls run the world.
I especially want to thank Julie for her tireless efforts. The photos she takes, people she meets and bonds she forms have been quintessential to our work together during my time here. And I can’t forget about Ron Lander, the strong man behind the strong woman!
I certainly won’t be a stranger once I’m gone, and I look forward to seeing how the soap opera that is Malibu develops.
And to everyone in town, whether you live here or not, I implore you to look around at least once a day and realize how fortunate it is to be in a place like this. Even if you’re just passing through, pass through gratefully.