The Daily Commercial (Leesburg, Fla.)

Did anybody on this board not struggle financially with that first job? hell, most of us continue to struggle many years after getting into the business.

 

It looks like this job is a distinct possibility for me. I'm not basing major life decisions on what I read on a message board (whether that's a good decision or not, I've yet to decide), but feel free to persuade or dissuade as you will.

 

Go at your own risk.

 

If you love Ramen noodles, you'll love Leesburg.

 

Ahh, memories... I worked at this paper for several years... hard for me to comment now because it's been so long since I've been there. I left there in 1999 and there is nobody left at the paper that I even know, which really isn't that surprising. When I was there the cost of living wasn't really all that high.. I had a nice, large one-bedroom apartment in a four-apartment building owned by an older couple and it was only $350 a month... of course, who knows what it's like now. I grew up in the area and it is one of the fastest growing areas in the country (according to a graphic I saw in USA Today last week). Anyways, wish I had more to offer but that's it... if you are fresh out of school looking for a job to get your feet wet, go for it. Several of the folks I worked with at this paper are at high-level positions at very large papers now.

 

Webby is proof that Ramen noodles = success!!!!

 

For the record, I have never once eaten Ramen noodles.

 

Damn Webby, you know better than to let facts get in the way of a great story.

 

I held this job from 2005-06, it's a good job to have. The pay is just a bit higher than it was when I was there, but you can live comfortably on your own on the pay since Florida has no state income tax. There are some places like Blueberry Hill II apartments which fit comfortably in the pay range, and are only 5 minutes from work. Adam really taught me to get every single little detail of a story, which has helped me out a lot at my current job even though I cover public education just across the county line from Fulton County/Atlanta instead of sports now at the Clayton News Daily in Jonesboro, Ga. (Kids getting tied up, tasered and picking up mysterious rashes by the boat load, SWEET!).

Leesburg isn't the most happening town (OK, it's dead after 9 p.m. except for McDonalds, Walmart and a couple of biker bars) and the traffic in the area sucks, but it's a good place to start out. I found myself being sent everywhere from Miami, Orlando, Gainesville and the space coast to cover stories.

 

And for the record, while some journalists ate ramen noodles at their first job, I grilled steak (OK it was small steak, and I tended to over cook it) and kabobs on the weekends while I was in Leesburg.