New role, same great community
By Staff
Jonathan Willis
It seems like yesterday that Eric, who is now my brother-in-law and I were shooting basketball inside a gym on a cold January morning in 2003.
We had both just graduated from college a couple of weeks before and were still not sure what we were going to do about finding jobs.
I had gotten a degree in journalism from the University of Alabama and had already turned down one job offer because I was trying to stay close to home. I remember telling him that the Franklin County Times had a job posted looking for an advertising sales representative.
I said, "well, it would get me some experience learning about newspapers, plus Mom and dad said that I have to get a job."
Little did I know then that that decision would be with me forever.
Some five plus years later I am taking on a new role at the FCT, one as president and publisher.
This is an exciting time for me as I begin this new job. It will be difficult, it will be challenging, but I think that it will be rewarding.
Not only to me, but hopefully to you, the readers.
I have some big shoes to fill because the last two men to hold this job, Stanley Allison and Jason Cannon, set a high standard. It is one that I will certainly have to work hard for to meet.
It is also a special time for me because this is my hometown paper. The one I grew up with.
Not many people in this field have an opportunity to serve in this role in their hometown so this means a great deal to me. But it also makes me want to see it be successful even more.
This is a community and county that I love.
My wife and I both grew up here, my parents and in-laws all still live here and we have a church family like no other. So the opportunity to stay here, in my home, and serve in this capacity is special for me.
My role will change quite a bit and I won't be covering the news, something I truly enjoy, as much as I have in the past. There will be new responsibilities for me to take on.
But the one thing that will not change is my, or this staff's, commitment to produce the best paper we can. It is not always an easy job, but we will work hard to do that.
I hope that if you ever know of anything happening in our community that others should know about, please call, email or come by our office to let us know about it. This paper has been Franklin County's source for news since 1879 and I am proud to be part of its future.
