Goodbye RCT – Gillian is Off to Boston!

For those of you who I’ve met, thank you for embracing me and my role of bringing hyperlocal news to Rockland residents, being insightful sources, and always encouraging me to cover community events. In the past year, I’ve written 43 articles, and created 26 posts on Instagram (@rocklandtimes if you’re interested in following!), and consistently updated the last four pages of the Community News section in the back of the paper. I’ve joined the Managing Editor, Sierra Lidén for “Meet the Press” events, where we’ve met several readers face to face in libraries, senior clubs, and civic associations. We even went to the New York Press Association annual conference and met journalists from all over the state. I’ve covered everything from town hall meetings, to e-bikes, to 5ks and most recently Rockland immigrants and their interpretation of the American Dream.

My number one pet peeve to hear from Rocklanders is that “There’s nothing to do around here!” Trust me, your neighbors and elected officials work hard to organize community centered events, many of which can be found on those last four pages.

For the readers I have not met, allow me to introduce myself. I started writing with the Rockland County Times just two months after graduating from Monmouth University, having studied Communications with a concentration in Journalism and Public Relations. It was not until my senior year, under the guidance of my brilliant professors, that I chose to pursue journalism. Through their  mentorship and encouragement, I made my last year count and wrote nine articles for the school newspaper, and four articles for The Coaster, a local paper in Asbury Park.

People and the stories they share are my ultimate passion. It is an honor and a privilege to bring stories that would normally only be told around a kitchen table to a county that houses five towns and almost 360,000 residents. As a Pearl River native, being able to report my hometown happenings has brought me closer to my county, and connected me more intimately to Rockland County and the people that live here.

I am incredibly excited to continue my education in journalism at Boston University’s College of Communication for my Master’s Degree. In the ever evolving digital age, many times people look at me sideways when I share what I do for a living. It’s not every day you meet a reporter, and a young one at that. To the people who have warned me about “fake news,” about AI, about journalism dying; I urge you to consider a world without reliable access to current events. Any person interested in history knows the significance of having accurate and timely information. Journalism has existed for more than 2,000 years, first recorded in Ancient Rome, and has evolved over time with the news it produces.

From Yellow Journalism, to Muckrakers, to Watergate, news and the people who create it are the undeniable Fifth Estate, making sure that their citizens are being served in a way that is productive to society.

With all of the information in the world available at our fingertips, people have begun to mistrust the information presented to them online, partially because any nut with an opinion can now post it without any credentials or sources. That is why print news, like this paper that you’re holding, is essential to the survival of the field of journalism. There is nothing quite like giving someone a copy and seeing their face light up because their picture is in the paper. It’s not an Instagram post or a blog — it’s a physical object they can cut out and put on their fridge. And there, in my byline exists my legacy along with their story.

My goal with achieving a Master’s Degree is to become skilled in all modes of storytelling. In terms of writing, I’ve gained experience writing stories, interviewing subjects, doing research, and attending events as a representative of the Rockland County Times. However, I’ve also made many posts on Instagram that feature clips from our highlighted stories. In grad school, I hope to refine not only my writing, but my ability to share stories throughout multiple media platforms.

With that, I extend my sincerest thanks to Rockland County for embracing me as your Community Editor. Part of what makes a reporter great is the ability to stay curious and open minded. I’ve reported on important issues to residents, including the CHPE fiasco last fall, the protest of Indian Point reopening, and even President Trump’s visit this past April. The people who have taken the time to have a conversation, to share their perspectives, and allowed me to understand full pictures of complicated issues are instrumental to my success this past year. Thank you for trusting me with issues near and dear to your heart.

In addition, the fun, “silly” stories I’ve written have brought me closer to our residents. Before I knew it, the same faces were appearing in different spaces, and always embracing an opportunity to be interviewed. Those connections and trust I’ve built are crucial in my practice as a reporter, one who its community can trust and depend on. One who is sent leads to stories every week, one who people go out of their way to introduce me to other community members. Rockland is in no way perfect. There are many upsetting things every week that the RCT documents, from data centers to crime, but there is also an undeniable spirit to make our home a place to be proud of.

So when asked why I do what I do, I can only describe the feeling I get after attending an interview, an event, a town hall, serious subjects, feel good stories, everything in between. Fire burns in my chest and my whole world feels lit up, I can hardly wait to get home and tell these stories to my family. Truthfully, the hardest part of being a reporter is attempting to translate that feeling into words. How do you do it justice? A recreation department head organizing a 5k for students to get college scholarships on top of her regular 9-5 (GAA 5k Memorial Walk!). A college professor at STAC integrating experiential learning and guiding her students to create their own event (Earth Day!).  A 24-year old debuting her fashion line in Paris (Steph Alise!). The more I write these incredible stories, the more moved I am by humanity and our beauty and complexities.

I am especially grateful for the experience I’ve shared with the Managing Editor, Sierra Lidén. Sierra has taught me about professionalism and writing. She is the heart and soul of this paper, and reads every single email that comes her way. Her mentorship helped me turn those big feelings into words, and she is always pushing me to be a better reporter. Not only that, she’s become a dear friend to me. I trust that she will continue to uphold the values of Rockland in my absence.