Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news of peace, who preach the gospel of good things!” – Romans 10:15

Rebekah and I were attending some event recently when I found myself talking with somebody new. The conversation turned to work and she asked if I am retired.

That would seem like a straightforward query, but it’s really not… because I am a writer, and since my last day as a school-teacher in Florida I have been consistently clacking away on my computer keyboard, generating quite a lot of words.

And that has not changed much since I turned 65 and checked the “retired” box. The only difference now is that there are no more magazines, or websites, or foundations, or publishers, or newspapers sending me checks.

With two exceptions. First, a slow trickle of royalties comes in from my books. Then – and the reason for this post – I still write a column that runs in a community-based newspaper in Florida. Yesterday I got to participate in a Zoom staff-meeting to catch up with what is going on.

A Newspaper that’s doing well!

The paper is called “The Osprey Observer” and, especially in this era where print is considered on the verge of death and journalism is constantly under attack, the Osprey Observer stands as a really positive story.

The core mission of the publication (started in 2001 by Marie and Doug Gilmore), has been that of filling the local news gap and facilitating community engagement via reports, events and human-interest stories. Chronicling, essentially, the life of the region.

While traditional papers such as the Tampa Tribune were collapsing, the Osprey Observer has quietly grown, embracing a variety of technologies and media while remaining firmly grounded in print.

The print edition now tailors content to serve five markets, is delivered to 74,000 homes and has an estimated reach of 160,000 readers. The website tops 100,000 views monthly and is still growing. Osprey Observer TV and the podcast channel (like this archived interview with yours truly) round out the catalog of offerings.

I first met Editor/publisher Marie Gilmore when I featured her in an article for the Tampa Tribune, circa 2010. The Tribune tried to quash the story because they viewed her work as competition. I remember marching into my editor’s office and asking “Are we in the business of telling important community stories…? Or propping up our own self-interest?” They ran my article.

I went on to pen a number of features for the Osprey Observer before we moved to North Carolina, and Marie has been kind enough to continue my slice-of-life inspirational column, monthly, ever since.

It means a lot to me to still have a voice, in print, in the region where Rebekah and I lived and worked for so many pivotal years (1996-2013).

Newspapers are important. Telling community stories is important. Journalism is a vital component of democracy, and we are less free to the extent that we silence or marginalize the truth-seeking voice of the press.

Thanks, Osprey Observer, and thanks to Marie for keeping me around – DEREK