Cover photo: Yukon Suspension Bridge, British Columbia-Yukon Border (Credit – Matt Meduri)
Like any job, a good break is needed every now and again. For some, the quick long weekend to Upstate, New England, or Florida is a typical getaway. For the more adventurous, a week-long excursion to an off-the-beaten-path location is perfect for disconnecting, exploring, and checking some boxes on the travel map.
For me, I need both.
Not only have I always been the type to enjoy a good adventure as well as a getaway during which I can turn off my brain, but that need has grown in the last couple years of my life. With all the boomerangs life throws at us, they get exponentially more difficult as time goes by, and time flies much, much faster the more years you tack on.
Holding a job that requires me to live Thursday-to-Thursday in accordance with the newscycle makes time evaporate before my very eyes. I love my job and could have never imagined I would be in the place I am today, and while I can handle the unpredictability, the extensive driving, and research rabbit holes well, it has a way of catching up to you.
Therefore, a good break was in order, not only for my own sake, but for the sake of The Messenger as a whole, in terms of content, staff morale, and upward progress. We work like a conveyor belt here, and if one part of that belt is shorting out, some time away is usually the ultimate repair.
Moreover, I was able to check a box on my travel map that I’ve been looking to cross off since I was little: Alaska.
The Last Frontier certainly didn’t disappoint in terms of scenery, excursions, wildlife, and the raw natural beauty that makes Alaska simply other-worldly – at least compared to my other travels. A seaplane ride to the Taku Glacier near Juneau, a whale watching tour in Sitka, and a train ride up to Canada’s Yukon Territory were the highlights of the trip, not to mention endless food, catching up on sleep, and spending quality time with family.
I am incredibly thankful and fortunate to have such a great team here at The Messenger, who was able to expertly handle the constant flow of news in my ten-day absence.
The MVP award goes to Madison Warren, our social media manager and aspiring reporter who took on the de facto role of Editor-in-Chief, which entailed chasing stories in the field, contacting elected officials, proofing stories, delegating stories to the other writers, and completing the pagination for our art team. It’s a lot of work to squeeze in a week, and with no set schedule – one at the whims of the ever-changing newscycle – it’s a challenge.
Nonetheless, the papers went out smoothly and packed with relevant content and compelling analysis as always, and we think the experience Madison received will certainly help her at The Messenger going forward.
Publisher Raheem Soto also covered some writing and helped steer the ship, all while adjusting to his new position and looking to help us reach the next level.
Intern writer Aiden Lorenzo picked up the slack in the Town of Islip, while Anthony Cacciato – an occasional guest on the op-ed page – was the point person for Smithtown. Our regular writers, columnists, and graphic designers also certainly did not disappoint.
It’s a common joke that if everything went fine while you were away, then how needed are you? I’d make that joke, except dividing the work load is the only way to work in media and journalism. I think my job security is just fine.
But to do an even better job and to not get buried in papers, the sabbatical was necessary, and a behemoth trip like Alaska requires at least a solid week away from home.
And it wouldn’t have been possible without the great team we have here at The Messenger. Election season will begin in earnest before we know it, and I’m glad I was able to get away and defragment my brain before hitting the campaign trail.
And my handy camera earned me some great pictures from Alaska…
Sincerely,
Matt Meduri
Editor-in-Chief, Messenger Papers
Coram
