During my seven-month layover in local news, I reported on the Wantagh and Seaford communities on Long Island. These two communities are affluent even for Nassau County standards, which is a top-15 County by median income in America.
As a local news reporter, I learned the dynamic of these Nassau County communities and beyond, refined my voice through writing, and even produced a paper on my own (February 15, 2018 edition of the Wantagh and Seaford Heralds) after the company decided to leave a gap between editors.
As grim as it sounds, covering Wantagh and Seaford taught me the nuances and value of obituary writing. Not only have I met some incredible living figures in these communities, but also learned stories of those who died and what they meant to the community.
Also, I had the unique opportunity to get a glimpse into the Boxing community, which will come in handy if, and when, I take a trip to Las Vegas to watch some fights at the MGM Grand.
Besides an all-you-can-eat brunch at Russo’s on the Bay for a New York Boxing Hall of Fame award ceremony, the highlight of my time at the Herald was being a part of a four-person team who took home second place at the Press Club of Long Island awards for Health Reporting through a piece about a nursing shortage.
Unfortunately, due to the state of the local news industry, I could not afford to keep being a full-time reporter with the unique demands that it presents. Still, I am proud of the work that I produced below, as it reflects a stage within my growth as a writer:
Highlights
Help wanted: Demand for nurses growing as baby boomers retire, age – 2nd Place-winning feature, written by the company’s managing editor, Scott Brinton, with assistance from myself, Brian Stieglitz and Zachary Gottehrer-Cohen.
Wantagh knockout artist inducted into New York State Boxing Hall of Fame
Freeport native brings Broadway to Wantagh
Wantagh women honored for community efforts
Locals remember Seaford teacher, historian, naturalist
County champs, legendary Warriors
ODMaps to aid in fight against opioids
Police seek suspect in Seaford bank robbery