Pamplin Media Group – Reporter’s Notebook: After 23 years, the editor-in-chief says goodbye

Anne Endicott held a variety of newsroom positions, from news anchor to editor. Your last day is August 31st.

Spending more than two decades as a journalist is like a passenger on a cruise ship.

There is anticipation to see new places; Excitement of meeting new people; and an opportunity to broaden your horizons with new experiences.

I’m not going to drop anchor after The Outlook, Sandy Post, and Estacada News hit the streets on Wednesday, August 25th. I’m just setting sail for another adventure – retirement. DH (Dear Husband) retired nine years ago and made a life of leisure so attractive that I decided to follow his itinerary – somewhere other than the golf course.

During my 23 year career, I have been blessed with mostly calm waters. Three editors with a solid grasp of community journalism pushed, flattered, and encouraged me to grow as a writer. Likewise, my coworkers have been an incredibly talented bunch over the years who have inspired me, made me laugh, and put up with my stupidity in the newsroom. And a community that exploded with its population with wonderful stories.

I was hired as a news writer back then when beginners started at the bottom writing short messages and obituaries. The Internet was developing slowly and was largely unreliable at the time, so most of the public communication came to the editorial office via FAX. Ultimately, the use of the Internet and e-mail became an integral part of our work. That is not to say that instant access to information is not flawed. When Pamplin Media launched an online obituary information submission form, it only took us once to realize that the first name on the form was intended for the person filling it out – not the name of the deceased.

One of my earliest uses was taking pictures of myself with a camera in the field, just before Christmas to photograph people enjoying an early snowfall. Driving through the snow completely unprepared, I took my photos and thought the whole time: “I can’t believe they are paying me to have so much fun.”

A few short years later, I lost these camera privileges after taking a picture of a descendant of a pioneering family from Gresham with a street sign sticking out of their head.

The days of a reporter are marked by variety. Every day is an adventure. I made friends with fellow media outlets while attending a day of training with firefighters in Portland. We met when we rappeled down a three-story tower and drove the back end of a hook and ladder. After spending nine weeks in the civic academy, I gained new respect for the FBI. Along with a sincere look at the work of agents, I learned that it is possible to hit birds from a rifle range in Vancouver, Washington, Canada if you are a gun novice with an automatic MP5 assault rifle.

I was mauled by goats, drooled on by pigs, and knocked over by horses. I’ve interviewed inspiring children, local and national dignitaries, and even a group of men who chose the hottest day of the year to eat an ungodly amount of pickles.

But I was also blessed with a cake fresh out of the oven and hand made by the late Rev. Harold Fuller; heard and wrote remarkable stories of heroism and love among WWII veterans; and had my heart really warmed from readers sending cards and emails as I made my way through breast cancer treatment in 2017.

I have seen tidal waves of compassion in our community during turbulent times. Three days after the NYC Towers collapsed in 2001, I stood with neighbors and friends near American flags hanging from Gresham Fire’s wagons over downtown Gresham. After the 2014 Reynolds High School shooting, I spoke to Wood Village manager Fred Meyer, who was bringing out lounge chairs, cookies, and suntan lotion for parents waiting to be reunited with their children.

I was humbled and honored to be able to tell these stories as a member of the media.

But most of all it was an incredible experience sailing on this ship that has taken me on so many voyages over the past 23 years. I owe my thanks to my colleagues for making work a pleasure; these three editors who gave me the wings to fly; and privileged and honored by those who entrusted me with their stories to tell.

In the words of Jimmy Buffet, the master of Margaritaville, “Drink it up, this is for you – it was a lovely cruise.”

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