Today, I learned that The Seattle Times won a Pulitzer Prize for its breaking news reporting on the shooting deaths of four Lakewood Police officers and the manhunt for the suspect, back in November of last year.
First of all, it’s sad that so many tragedies have to happen in order for quality journalism to a) take place and b) be recognized (Hurricane Katrina coverage, for example). That said, the Times staff did an amazing job on this story. They followed every lead and every angle and reported the hell out of the story. I imagine that everyone in the newsroom and even outside of the newsroom contributed in some way. And that kind of collaboration and teamwork and kick-ass reporting is what I miss about working there.
Which brings me to the ellipses portion of my blog title. My first reaction to the Pulitzer news was pure delight. The Times deserves this. The staff hasn’t often been recognized for its breaking-news coverage, but this proves what the Times can do. But I can’t help but feel a little sad. I want to be there with my former colleagues. Not just today, as they bask in the well-deserved glory. Every day. I miss the excitement, the energy, the feeling that the work matters. I don’t need to be a part of this particular honor to know that the time I spent at the Times was meaningful and that the work I did helped make a difference. I am proud to have been a part of a family-owned, prize-winning newspaper. I believe I would still be there today if I had been given a choice.
On a related note, I wrote a silly little spring home maintenance article for MSN Real Estate, and so far nearly a quarter-million people have at least clicked on it. Not bad.