After nearly 30 years at The Sun News, things are different. Here’s why we need your help.
Come September, I will have worked at The Sun News for a full 27 years.
Without going into great detail about age and years and how those are just numbers, suffice it to say it’s more than half my life.
I’ve been there with and for you, and you’ve been there with and for me, and I’ve always considered what I do important to both me and the community.
Some readers are closer than others, and some appreciate my writing and reporting more than others, as I’m reminded from time to time. But I appreciate you all.
I do what I do for me and for you.
Of course, I generally cover and enjoy sports.
I’ve covered every sports beat The Sun News has had in my tenure with the exception of auto racing – general assignment, high schools, Myrtle Beach Pelicans, golf and Coastal Carolina athletics.
But everything I do is grounded in news.
I’ve covered too many hurricanes to mention, with the exception of Hurricane Floyd in 1999, memorable because I got the front wheels of my car stuck in beach sand with a friend and her dog Jasper as the storm was approaching, and that’s where the old Subaru rode out the storm.
Informing the public before, during and after a dangerous natural disaster is among the most important things we’ll do as reporters, and that’s where we find ourselves again.
Things are a little different now.
I’m a sportswriter without a sport to write about because of the coronavirus COVID-19, so this stretch of news coverage is extended henceforth indefinitely and is being done largely from home and in the field as we practice social distancing as a staff.
Being a part of today’s Sun News team makes what I do as important as ever.
I’ve found myself writing about hotel occupancies and safety practices, bike weeks, housing sales, business openings and closings, canceled and rescheduled events, emergency government ordinances, and all things coronavirus including documenting evidence that the virus’ presence on the Grand Strand predates the first confirmed case by at least several weeks.
There’s a lot more important reporting to come from me and my fellow journalists.
Schooled, trained and passionate reporters dedicated to truth, accuracy and entertaining writing when it allows should be a right for residents of every community, but unfortunately it isn’t.
That’s where we need your help. Subscriptions are critical to our ability to sustain local news coverage. If you aren’t subscribing, please consider doing so by visiting myrtlebeachonline.com/subscribe.
If you’d like to help and you’re a subscriber, you can make a tax-deductible donation to preserve local journalism. We have partnered with the nonprofit Local Media Foundation, which is accepting contributions on our behalf. Donate by visiting givebutter.com/myrtlebeachonline.
Your tax-deductible gift will help us continue to report fully on the coronavirus’ impact on our communities.
Hopefully you’ll take advantage of the information we provide, enjoy how we supply it and support what we do for the benefit of the community.
Then hopefully we’ll all get back to enjoying watching, writing and reading about sports again in the very near future.
Before college football season begins would be great as I embark on my 28th year at The Sun News.
