As many of you found out yesterday morning from my Twitter feed, I’ve been hired by The Hamilton Spectator as a summer intern..
I’m quite excited by this opportunity and very much looking forward to covering the story of my hometown.
I’m a life long Hamiltonian. Even when I was living in Winnipeg or stationed at Canadian Forces installations, my heart remained firmly in the city. One of my favourite “pranks” when I was sitting on the University of Manitoba Students’ Union Council was to try and insert a positive line about my hometown into my statements . I even wore a “I ♥ Hamilton” shirt to Council.
There are many stories to be told in my community and I look forward to telling them.
Hamilton’s an interesting city which holds much promise. At one time Hamilton was a great centre of progress and innovation within the British Empire; today is struggling with many of the challenges of older urban centres.
My roots are in the poorest and most challenged areas of the city. Congress Cresent, Kenora Ave., Barton Street, Sherman North at Burlington, the North End, and the East Downtown: these are all places that I called home growing up.
As an adult, I’ve been able to live in a nice apartment building in Glendale, another decent building in University Gardens, and presently live in Durand.
My limited success has enabled me to socialize in some of the most affluent socio-economic circles in my city. I’m hoping this unique experience of my city will make me worthy to hold the public trust that is being a local reporter.
It is this intimate knowledge of my city that makes me nervous as well – I’m known in Hamilton and people rightfully expect a lot from me. I’ve received many congratulatory emails in the last 24 hours and I’m thankful for each one of them. I only hope I can live up to the expectations of my peers.
Being a journalist is a great public trust and I find it to be a daunting challenge to make myself worthy of that trust.
I’m honoured to have the opportunity to tell the story of my community.
I do not yet know what this summer position will mean for my higher education writing at GlobeCampus.