Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
3:59 am Sunday, March 1, 2009

Making it worthwhile

By Staff
Melissa Cason
Sometimes working in the news business isn't easy.
I mean the news has to be delivered on time no matter what. The motto at my house is 'the news waits for no man, woman or child.'
I have always felt this way even when I was just a reporter at my college newspaper. When I worked as the assistant news director at a small town radio station, I ended up working on Thanksgiving and Christmas just to get the news out.
But, I have to admit holidays are pretty slow news days unless something catastrophic happens.
As a reporter, you give up a lot in order to get the news, and the more you advance into the world of media, the more sacrifices you have to make in order to get things done. And, that's just the way it is.
However, this week, our will to get the news out on time has been tested to the max.
After Progress came out, I took Monday off to recover. I figured the worst was over for a year, and all would be rosy and sweet at work. I came to work Tuesday and all was good. It wasn't until I took Wednesday off that the world collapsed around us-literally.
In case you haven't noticed, our building is being worked on. More specifically, the roof.
I came to work Thursday, and it was okay. I'll admit that having a few leaks was a little inconvenience. But, Friday takes the cake. I came to work Friday only to find that the condition of our leaky roof had escalated, and my co-workers were moving furniture in order to save it from ruining.
I found myself working hurriedly in order to get the food page done and then was instructed to work on the paper because we had no idea what the day would hold, and today's paper had to arrive right on time.
So there I was working on the paper while the rest of the newsroom was suffering from the leaks in the roof.
So, on this day, I decided that sometimes it isn't great to work in the news business. In some jobs, we'd be sent home.
But, since I am a reporter, I have to get the paper out no matter what.
While I love my job, this week could have been better. But, there you are reading our first Saturday edition.
That makes it all worth it.

Also on Franklin County Times
Sheriff: Contraband is constant battle in jails
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
January 21, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver said the county jail is not immune to the problem jail officials everywhere face: Inmates coming...
Oliver, Shackelford qualify for sheriff
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
January 21, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE – Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver will have to hit the campaign trail to seek a fifth term this year. Oliver, a Republican and Fra...
New welding shop a plus for students
Franklin County, Main, News, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 21, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — A new welding shop inside the Russellville High School’s remodeled career tech building offers students more time and space to learn th...
Vina seniors tour NWSCC campuses
News, Vina Red Devils
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 21, 2026
VINA — Vina High School seniors toured the Phil Campbell and Muscle Shoals campuses of Northwest Shoals Community College as part of career planning a...
Can the US solve its electricity crisis?
Columnists, Opinion
January 21, 2026
As America embraces a new year 2026, consumers are looking for relief from an ongoing “affordability crisis.” While prices for some key items have mer...
Book Lovers Study Club helps Safeplace
Columnists, News, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
January 21, 2026
Safeplace provides safety, shelter and practical support to people experiencing domestic violence and education aimed at preventing abuse. The regiona...
CB&S Bank announces promotion of Woodard
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 21, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE CB&S Bank will have a new chief credit officer this spring as longtime executive Jeff Daniel prepares to retire at the end of the first q...
Vaughn retires from First Metro Bank
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 21, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — After a 45-year career in the financial industry, Mike Vaughn has retired from First Metro Bank, where he spent the last three decades ...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *