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Times-Journal welcomes new reporter
Published Saturday, January 10, 2009
Caleb R. Johnson
Caleb R. Johnson joined the Selma Times-Journal news staff in December after being recruited by Boone Newspapers at a job fair at the University of Alabama, where he majored in journalism and minored in art history.
His coverage focus area is education, but Johnson has already proven adept at reporting and writing on anything tossed in his direction.
"We in the newsroom have been impressed by Caleb's work ethic and how quickly he grasps the idea of a 24-7 news cycle, using the Web and print in tandem," said editor Leesha Faulkner.
His mentor while at The University of Alabama was Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Rick Bragg. Johnson and Bragg developed a close relationship through their similar rural, north Alabama upbringings.
"I feel like we come from the same place. You can see it in the way we write," Johnson said. "Rick taught me how to tell stories, which is what journalism is about."
That sense of place landed Johnson in Selma.
Johnson knew he wanted to move to Selma the minute he drove into town for an interview in late November.
"It's about as Alabama as you can get," he said.
Johnson grew up in Arley in the southeast corner of Winston County. He attended Meek High School. His father, Ronnie, is a coal miner, his mother, Debra, is an elementary school teacher and his sister, Savannah, is a student at Meek High.
Johnson said he enjoys living in a small town.
"It's nice to recognize people when you walk around town," he said. "It gives you a real sense of home.”
Johnson said he was pleased to discover that despite Selma's population, there is no shortage of things to write about.
"That's one thing that brought me here. I knew there wouldn't be a dull moment," he said. "I feel lucky to start my career in such an interesting place."
Johnson's favorite thing about Selma is his house. He lives in a house that dates back to the 1870s with his orange tabby cat, Stax.
"It's exactly the kind of place I pictured living before I came here," he said. "It suits me."
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Comments
Posted by tbrb (anonymous) on January 10, 2009 at 6:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Welcome to Town! You are definately right...Selma has some interesting stories!
Posted by Nina (anonymous) on January 10, 2009 at 7:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I've enjoyed reading Your articles.
Hope to run into You in town and say, "Welcome to Selma!"
Posted by mccrary36703 (anonymous) on January 12, 2009 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Welcome to Selma, yes you have your work cut out for you. There is something always going on in Selma.I may plan on moving back to Selma in the near future to work with the disadvantaged youth that commit crimes, hoping to make a difference. Everything is up in the air. Montgomery has their hands full with the youth here. But time will tell. Again welcome to Selma.
Posted by hjorgan (anonymous) on January 12, 2009 at 6:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Caleb, welcome to a great town!
If you like outdoors (fishing, hunting, etc) it's the place to be.
If you are looking for some serious investigative reporting fodder, this may be a good starting place.
http://www.angelfire.com/un/selma/ga.htm...
Posted by Publisher (anonymous) on January 12, 2009 at 6:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually, One_Voice, that started on day-one of Caleb's employment. I suspect every manager in the business world makes assignments to their staff, gives them guidance on what to do, what not to do so they can become proficient at their job. We're no different.
And with Caleb being fresh out of J-School, he needs lots of guidance and training so he can then determine on his own what is, or isn't a story and the key elements that make up a good news story.
We have an editor and a managing editor here that will work with Caleb to help him hone his skill as a journalist. If you've read any of his work yet, you can already tell he is an excellent story teller. We're fortunate and proud to have him on staff.
Dennis Palmer
Publisher
The Selma Times-Journal
selmatimesjournal.com
Posted by getitreal2008 (anonymous) on January 12, 2009 at 7:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Honestly, no sarcasm intended, I truly love the fact that the STJ Publisher will not sit back and let people try to act childish by slamming the very paper they are reading about. I think it says alot about the integrity of the paper and not wanting it to be some trashy thing.
Posted by jbrust (anonymous) on January 12, 2009 at 8:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Welcome to Selma!
Posted by saveselma (anonymous) on January 12, 2009 at 9 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Caleb! Welcome to Selma. Whether you are just passing through or decide to make Selma your home, you will never forget your time here. Enjoy!
Posted by ladybug334 (anonymous) on January 12, 2009 at 10:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well...as a journalism student at UA and from Selma, you always have to write what your editor tells you to. That is part of the job. That happens in every newsroom. Believe it or not, you don't always pick what you want. Reporters are sometimes on an assigned beat and that is what they write about. Even if you have an assigned story, which is a lot, you can still add your own flair to the story!
Posted by SelmaSmartBoy (anonymous) on January 12, 2009 at 10:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Welcome to Selma Caleb!
I also recommend the Angelfire site that hjorgan recommended to you, especially if you want a fine example of yellow journalism or muckraking. If not, you don't need those tabloids.
Again welcome and enjoy your stay!! :)
Posted by Crat (anonymous) on January 15, 2009 at 12:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
SCHNEIDER! Welcome to town. My sink is broken. Bring your monkey wrench!
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