My love of journalism, or at least my fascination with it, began when I was a teenager and I watched the movie “I Love Trouble.”

The largely forgettable movie starred Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte as rival reporters who reluctantly work together to uncover a huge story, and, of course, they fall in love, but that was beside the point.

The idea of investigative reporting fascinated me — being able to ask questions and dig up the dirt and expose a serious story. Of course, seeing “All the President’s Men” in college just added to my enthusiasm. And then there was “His Girl Friday,” about a crusty news editor and his ex-wife ace reporter, which, to be honest, mostly just reinforced my love for Cary Grant, but anyway…

“I Love Trouble” sparked my interest enough to where I joined my high school newspaper at Richland High School, and, just like that, my path was set. Except for a brief period, where I considered majoring in political science rather than journalism at Western Washington University, I haven’t diverged from that path.

After an internship in Aberdeen at The Daily World, which was actually a daily at that time, I began my career at the Enumclaw Courier-Herald, before it was owned by Sound Publishing, which now owns The Daily World and the Federal Way Mirror, where I am happy to have taken my career. Of course, there was that eight-year stint at a daily in Ontario, Ore., before I took over the editor reins for two years at the Hermiston Herald, which was published two days a week before one day, and my position, was cut.

Now I’m back where I started. Or at least 22 miles away. For me, it’s all about western Washington, coming back to my roots and enjoying the balmy weather and sun-shiny days. Or not. Actually, I have been slowly working my way back here ever since I left, this time with my electrician husband and daughter.

I can’t be more thrilled with where I’m sitting and the newspaper for which I work.

As editor of this newspaper, I don’t intend to take that, or you, the readers, for granted.

In a day of false news and a faltering newspaper industry, community journalism is more important than ever; newspapers, whether read online or in print, continue to be a solid, trust-worthy source of news in a community, be it large or small.

Federal Way is a small town wrapped in a big town’s body. The traffic is also worse than I remember it being, but that’s neither here nor there. The people are friendly, and I have been duly welcomed by everybody I have met. I am also so lucky to have two strong reporters with whom to work, as well as great co-workers.

Already, these past two weeks, I have been to a number of community events and have forgotten more names than I care to admit. I have also gotten a glimpse into a variety of issues, as well as local politics. I have a lot more to learn, and a lot of stories I look forward to seeing in the Mirror. Which brings me to my favorite quote: “Questions are never indiscreet. Answers sometimes are.” Oscar Wilde is attributed as saying this, and it has become something of a motto for me as a journalist. With a “license to ask,” I frequently pull no punches, but, given my great desire to be right, I always make sure stories can stand up to the greatest scrutiny.

Moving forward, I want the Mirror to continue to be the great community newspaper it is, one that people turn to regularly for their local news, sports, letters to the editor and more. For our continued success, relevancy is key. So is reader involvement. For us to provide the news and information you want, we must know what you want. I want to know.

I want to know who you are, what you like to see in the newspaper, what you don’t like and, most of all, what is going on in this community. I encourage everyone with story ideas, to constructive criticism, to suggestions on how to improve. Bottom line: I want to hear from you. To that end, I invite people to email me at editor@federalwaymirror.com with your thoughts, or call me at 253-292-2309. I look forward to hearing from you.