Sharing The News
I started my career in journalism. As a 16-year-old, I covered Warrensburg-Latham football in 1999 for The Courier in Lincoln, Ill. It was a freelance gig for a high school student with aspirations of becoming a sports journalist while working as a part-time circulation clerk for the same publication.
Let me tell ya, I was living the dream.
That first fall Friday night on a football field surrounded by corn and soybean fields in Macon County was the start of an incredible path that led me to a journalism degree at Bradley University. While in Peoria, I learned the trade as a “part-timer” in the Peoria Journal Star’s sports department. As Bradley’s J-program taught me about keeping a rolodex by day, I was saving source contact info in a cell phone after a game by night. As Bradley’s J-program taught me about journalism law by day, I was receiving threats from racecar drivers by Saturday night.
I learned the news business at the Journal Star from some of the best. I also learned some hard lessons.
I wrote my first gamer in this building in 1999.
Plans Change
During the spring of 2005, I was preparing for graduation and interviewing with newspapers in central Illinois. I watched as full-time colleagues of the newspaper business were dismissed as part of downsizing, buyouts, and restructuring.
I was a month away from graduation, and I realized I didn’t want to spend a career watching over my shoulder. I didn’t want to always wonder if I would be next. The tea leaves were speaking. And by 2007, I had found employment outside of the news business.
At the Journal Star, I became the prep soccer beat writer. Here I am grabbing a quote from Pekin coach Edgar Sandoval after a game.
Completely Blindsided
I often wondered about the drive home for those folks who were downsized or restructured out of a job. I couldn’t imagine – I didn’t want to imagine – the immediate concern for the future. I always landed on this question though: How did they tell their spouse, their family? Putting myself in their shoes, I dreaded that thought.
Fast forward to noon, September 28, 2020. My job was eliminated as part of restructuring. Completely blindsided, I was thrown back into those questions as I left the parking lot for the last time. I experienced that dread.
A Ball of Nerves
My wife is a preschool teacher. She usually has an afternoon break during nap time.
I spent the 15-minute drive to Molly’s school wondering how to tell her. A ball of nerves, I jumped between what to say and what the future holds. What about tomorrow? What about the holidays? What about that work project, about which I just had a meeting? What about those upcoming events? Is anyone hiring? Because, oh by the way, we’re in a pandemic. What are we going to do?
I sat with my wife outside the entrance to her school and told her my job was eliminated. Luckily, I knew my wife would be supportive and encouraging. I was never worried about her reaction. My dread was always about my own expectation to be the provider for my family.
Molly is THE rock in my support network. She was equally surprised. She asked questions. I usually didn’t have an answer. In leaning on our faith, she confidently and compassionately said we would navigate this time and come out stronger.
We talked about how to tell our children.
Telling My Children
In the spring of 2020, we had talked with W and O about how some people were losing their job during the pandemic. We discussed why it was important to us to support local businesses and local food pantries as much as possible because we were blessed to be employed at the time.
We make a point to have dinner at the table as a family, save an occasional Friday movie night. W and O talk about school. Molly and I talk about our day. We usually laugh. We (sometimes) bribe (OK, usually bribe) W and O to eat their dinner. And, sometimes, we have difficult news to share.
I don’t have any specific advice on telling kids this kind of news. People trained specifically in this area would be far better experts. What worked for us: We were honest, using language they would understand, and reassuring. We emphasized they could ask us any question, any time.
W and O listened. They asked questions. We answered as best we could. We explained things may look a little different for a while. Most importantly, we reassured them: We’ll be OK. Our job is to take care of them. And nothing changes that.
What’s Next?
I still don’t know what my future holds – other than trying a new recipe this week and writing a new blog post over the next couple weeks. I’ve had a few interviews for opportunities that are very exciting, and I would be ecstatic to join any of those teams.
This month, I revisited the idea of a career change: accountant, technology specialist, data analyst, electrician. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy digital marketing and writing. But this is the time to reevaluate and explore new avenues. More on that later in a blog post.
In the meantime, let me tell ya, I’m ready to be living the dream again.
About The Blog & Author
Phel Into This is the blog of Justin Phelps (Hey, that’s me!). First published at 16 years old, I am a writer and digital marketer. Phel Into This was developed to share perspectives on seeking employment during a global pandemic after my job was eliminated by restructuring in 2020. I enjoy soccer, cooking, trying new restaurants, and spending time with my terrific family.