My introduction to Federal Way came in the form of the reception I got when I was offered this incredible position.
And it wasn’t a good one.
“Wait, you’re going to work and cover sports in ‘Felony Way?'” a mentor and friend from a much larger Seattle paper asked upon receiving my excited text message. “You know they just had like three shootings in 48 hours not long ago, right?”
Wait – what? That can’t be right, can it?
It was, much to my surprise. As someone who recently transplanted their way to the state – yes, I’m one of those – on a whim from a small, safe, upper-middle class bedroom community in Arizona, where the most egregious crime was shops and restaurants that lined Gilbert Road not opening until 10 a.m., it appeared as though I was entering into yet another complete unknown.
As it turns out, though, new and unknown is exactly what I need at this point in my life.
In terms of sports writing, I’ve had the privilege of covering MLB, NFL, NHL, MLS and NCAA sports in Arizona, all before the age of 30, which my sports-writing mentor said was something I shouldn’t plan on happening because the industry makes that near-impossible today.
Prior to making the move to the Evergreen State, I hit a “career crossroads” of sorts. I left the paper I was at because I’d accomplished everything I could and was no longer challenged, and I did the popular reporter thing to do and transitioned into copywriting for a public relations company.
It was miserable. I was miserable. And as a result, so was my writing.
I missed working in a newsroom. I had never experienced something so inspiring and exhilarating, and I wasn’t the same without it.
I did the only thing that felt right: I reached out to my “slow your roll” mentor. But I knew with his commitments to ESPN and his paper, it would likely prompt no response.
“Any chance you’ll be in AZ?” I asked. To my surprise, he was headed down the following week to write his once-a-season NBA column.
We met at a local hotel coffee shop and I explained my dilemma. After pausing for a couple autographs and a moment to think, the master of language replied, “Get over it.”
Huh? That’s it? I turn to my writing hero for critical advice about my future and that’s all I get?
Thankfully, he expounded on his short reply.
“It’s something we all go through at some point,” he said. “I was 25 when your same quandary hit me. I wasn’t covering sports, I was covering courts and crime at that point. I remember calling my dad when I was at the edge and we had the same conversation you and I are having now.”
What he went on to tell me is something I carry on a piece of paper in my wallet. I look at it each day before walking in the Mirror door: “If you love sports, buy tickets. But if you love writing, if you love language, if you love words – be a writer.”
It’s my love for all things writing that has me back in reporting, where I belong, and has me inspired to do it right here in this young, vibrant city.
I don’t write because it’s my mission to win awards. I do it because writing is what I love to do. It’s my job to bring the citizens of Federal Way the news as it happens, written in a style that hopefully has residents wanting to read this paper. I hold my writing standards extremely high and I expect our readers to do the same.
I don’t see Federal Way as “Felony Way.” I see it as a great community with so many stories to tell, and I look forward to finding them.
So please – feel free to send me story ideas and introduce yourselves. Get to know me so you can have the confidence in knowing that, if something’s out there, I got you.
Jerod Young started at the Federal Way Mirror in July. Contact him at 253-336-5349 or jyoung@fedwaymirror.com.
