On the FCT assembly line

By Staff
Jonathan Willis
Over the past four months, I've learned a lot of things about newspapers.
Four months ago marked a homecoming of sorts for me as I rejoined the staff of the Franklin County Times as General Manager.
I grew up reading this newspaper. I used to read about Golden Tiger football in the Franklin County Times back when I was a member of the team.
When I graduated from the University of Alabama, I was lucky enough to land a job at my hometown newspaper. I sold ads. I wrote stories. I took subscriptions. I did just about anything.
Now, just a handful of years later, I find myself back in the place where my career started and now I'm watching my career grow.
I'm still doing many of the things I've always done. What I've come to realize is how those things affect everything else.
It's sort of like an assembly line at an automobile plant. One guy welds the frame together. One guy hangs the doors.
One guy drops in the motor and by the end of the day you have a car.
It's kind of like that here. It takes everyone here working together to make a newspaper.
I can't write all the stories, so I have to rely on my co-workers for help.
I couldn't even begin to tell you how to crank up the press. It's a good thing we have two people who do a good job at that.
In all there are 12 full-time people and four part-time employees here who each play different roles and who are each very good at what they do.
I've learned a lot by watching them handle themselves and handle day-to-day situations and problems.
When I was growing up, I always heard how important it was to learn something new everyday. I can honestly say I learn a little more everyday.
There's quite an impressive process that takes place here six days per week, which allows us to deliver three newspapers, a shopper and a website in your homes.
And I'm glad to be a part of it.