National Newspaper Week 2024: Interviewing ourselves at The Sumter Item for a change
We asked our entire staff a series of questions about their roles with The Item and how they came to be here doing what they do, and here are their responses.
RHONDA BARRICK
Briefly explain your role:
Newsroom manager
Why did you get into this industry?
I fell into it. I finished high school a year early, and I wasn't interested in college. I am not sure why. I just wasn't. An older woman I rode horses with worked for The Item and recommended me for a position in the newsroom. I came in for the interview and got the job. I don't think there was a lot of competition, or it could have been that I came cheap. No experience, no degree.
What's your newspaper/journalism journey to today?
I began in September 1978 as a filing clerk for the newsroom. Over the last 46 years, I have done a little of everything, but always in the newsroom. All those years ago, I began the day manually cutting the paper roll of stories that ticked off the Associated Press teletype machine (if you want to see it, it still stands in the lobby of The Item) at 6 a.m., separated the stories onto metal pegs for each editor, whether it be sports or news, and then I made coffee (I didn't drink coffee at the time. It was for the rest of the crew). I even was given the chore of calling and waking up a few reporters that couldn't do that task on their own. Did I feel like these jobs belittled me? I won't lie, sometimes I did. My earthly boss, Hubert D. Osteen, used to love to say, "'Well done, good and faithful servant!" I would laugh at Mr. O, but I prayed My Father was saying the same thing.
Today, I edit stories, post stories to the website, design pages for the print edition, help with story ideas and more. I do drink coffee, and I don't wake anyone else up, but I do try to have a servant's heart. Some days, I fail.
What's something you've learned in the process?
Work has a domino effect. There is always someone depending on you to get your job done so they can get their job done. Just do your job.
How has working at a newspaper changed you?
I think it has made me more compassionate in some ways and hardened in others.
What's something you wish more people knew about your role or newspapers in general?
I wish more people recognized the importance of both the printed paper as well as the website. I love that we can put the news out on the website quickly for our readers, but I also love the act of cutting an article or photo out of the printed paper to keep as a cherished memory. Just something about newsprint. It is like holding a book instead of an e-reader.
What's something completely non-newspaper-related about yourself?
I want to go to Harry Potter World.
KAREN CAVE
Briefly explain your role:
Multi-media advertising sales representative
Why did you get into this industry?
My friend's husband, who was The Item's press manager at the time, offered me a job working as the pressroom and distribution department assistant.
What's your newspaper/journalism journey to today?
I have worked at The Sumter Item for 22 years. I started as the pressroom/distribution department's assistant completing daily press reports, newsprint paper, ink, press plate inventory and warehouse assistant logging in pallets of preprints as they arrived. I worked in this area for two years.
I then transferred to the circulation department as a district manager of 19 carrier routes for about a year. When there was an opening, I was asked if I would like to work in the advertising department. Being the adventurous person that I am, I transferred to the advertising front desk then to the outside sales rep position. I have been an ad sales rep for the last 18 years, and I love it!
What's something you've learned in the process?
Even though changing positions can be a little scary, change can be a good thing. In my case, transferring between three different departments in The Sumter Item was a great thing. I have learned tremendous knowledge about the ins and outs of the newspaper publishing business from working in these different positions. I have found my niche and am doing what I love.
How has working at a newspaper changed you?
Being a newspaper sales rep has made me more outgoing and taken me out of my shell. I'm not as shy as I once was. I now enjoy meeting and talking to new people. I also enjoy working hard for my advertising clients and helping their businesses grow.
What's something you wish more people knew about your role or newspapers in general?
I am thankful for all the knowledge I have obtained through working at The Item. I'm also thankful that the Osteen family has kept me around this long
What's something completely non-newspaper related about yourself?
I'm a wife, mother of three beautiful daughters, Valerie, Angelica and Allison. I'm known as Grandma to eight sweet grandchildren, Krista, Blake, Kaylee, Bentley, Loghen, Braylen, Luke and Brennon.
DEIRDRE CURRIN
Briefly explain your role:
I am a reporter! I cover the government beat, but I also enjoy covering anything that shows Sumter's history.
Why did you get into this industry?
I decided to be a journalist when there was a lot of talk surrounding "fake news." I thought if I was part of the news, I would know what I was reporting was the truth.
What's your newspaper/journalism journey to today?
I have grown a lot since I started writing journalistically three years ago. I started with my school paper, progressed to two local papers in Florence, and now I am at The Item! I have only just started discovering my voice in writing, so I am excited to see what my writing will look like 10 years from now.
What's something you've learned in the process?
Journalism and writing for newspapers has taught me that stories from community members are some of the most important that I will write, not the major stories that come from city officials. Though those are important, too, I've learned that telling smaller stories can have a bigger impact.
How has working at a newspaper changed you?
Working at a newspaper has helped me get a handle on my anxiety. As a reporter with an anxiety disorder (inherited from my father, thanks, Dad), people tell me all the time that I picked an interesting job. I did, but I love this job too much to let that get in my way. I know that I will never be the loudest person in the room, and I likely will never be comfortable enough to shove a camera in someone’s face, but the growth that I have shown has really shocked me.
What’s something you wish more people knew about your role or newspapers in general?
What I really wish people knew was how lucky they are to have a local paper like The Item. The Item puts out magazines, a free monthly paper and two papers a week, all while updating its website regularly. When I found The Item while looking for a new job, I was shocked by the size of their staff and the history behind the paper. This local paper is probably one in a million. I loved the papers that I worked for in Florence — they were amazing, too! But I would kill to have what we have here in Darlington and Florence County.
What’s something completely non-newspaper related about yourself?
I love my fiancé, the Sims 4, my two cats, my family, most video games, NYT crosswords, reading paperbacks, coffee and pasta. In that order.
ADAM FLASH
Briefly explain your role:
My role as a photojournalist is to tell stories visually and help others in brainstorming how to tell stories visually. That comes in the form of photos and other visual elements meant to accompany written stories as well as stand-alone visual stories.
Why did you get into this industry?
I really enjoy the satisfying feeling of telling people’s stories: taking a photo you’re proud of or finishing a piece of writing or video after struggling with the jigsaw puzzle of piecing elements together to flow in the best way. It feels good to physically be out around town connecting with people and highlight both the good and bad aspects in the community.
What’s your newspaper/journalism journey to today?
I started with my high school newspaper. While I already enjoyed writing, it was there I realized I enjoyed nonfiction writing and storytelling specifically as well as the team aspect of journalism, all having individual roles but coming together to produce a physical newspaper you could hold and be proud of. As a teenager, I also became interested in photography but didn’t combine the two until college. In college at Hofstra University, I majored in journalism but decided to pursue photojournalism specifically while working at the school’s newspaper and for other student media organizations like the radio and TV stations. Now, I’m here in Sumter, working in local journalism, telling important stories around the community.
What’s something you’ve learned in the process?
Each story deserves 100% care and that people’s willingness to share is not something to take for granted. While a journalist may have three assignments in a day, for example, and every photoshoot or story throughout a week may start to blend together as it can be a lot, each one is letting you into their lives (sometimes their literal homes) and deserves for their story to be told to the best of your ability.
How has working at a newspaper changed you?
Working at a newspaper has helped me combat my introverted nature and become more comfortable interacting with people, especially strangers. As journalists, we interact with countless people around the community every day, and it can be nerve-wracking photographing or interviewing people you don’t know, but over time it becomes easier. It makes you realize most people are friendly and willing to help.
What’s something you wish more people knew about your role or newspapers in general?
Newspapers are important and worth supporting. Local journalists are extremely hard-working, and while some of the time it’s glamorous getting to cover cool events or meet special people, the day-to-day is a grind, and it’s all because we believe in the work we’re doing.
What’s something completely non-newspaper-related about yourself?
I’m very outdoorsy and love to hike and rock climb.
MICAH GREEN
Briefly explain your role:
Photojournalist and I run the visual storytelling side of the newsroom, which includes photography and videography
Why did you get into this industry?
To begin with, I wanted to write and thought I could be close to the things I liked, like music, sports and the arts.
What’s your newspaper/journalism journey to today?
I went to school for journalism at Mississippi State University and worked for the student paper, which got me access to football sidelines and introduced me to people and places I hadn't been exposed to before. While I was still in school, I got a job as a reporter at the daily newspaper in the town over and ran its Starkville bureau, which really just meant I had to cover everything. That's where I picked up a camera for the first time and quickly realized photography is the form of journalism and storytelling that most resonated with me. From there, I started working for our publisher, Vince, at a paper north of Atlanta, and I came to The Item when he took the job here, too.
What’s something you’ve learned in the process?
There's much more gray in the world than any black and white.
How has working at a newspaper changed you?
It's made me appreciate what can be the mundaneness of day-to-day life and to see, not just to look.
What’s something you wish more people knew about your role or newspapers in general?
There is a real effort to get things right and that there are real people behind the bylines.
What’s something completely non-newspaper related about yourself?
I have an English setter named Breeze, and she's the best. At the office, she's our chief morale officer.
CARY HOWARD
Briefly explain your role:
I am a graphic designer. I design ads and newspapers for The Lexington County Chronicle, The Bluffton Sun and The Hilton Head Sun (all sister papers to The Item) and design ads and Sumter's Next Generation for The Sumter Item.
Why did you get into this industry?
I had always loved reading the paper at my parents’ house growing up, looking at all of the pretty ads. The Item was looking for a part-time graphic designer, and a friend who worked at the paper at the time encouraged me to apply.
How has working at a newspaper changed you?
It’s made me more aware of what’s going on in the world around me.
What’s something you wish more people knew about your role or newspapers in general?
I wish people knew how hard of a job working at a newspaper is.
What’s something completely non-newspaper related about yourself?
I absolutely love horror movies, slashers, thrillers, zombie, anything horror.
VINCE JOHNSON
Briefly explain your role:
Publisher since 2017
Why did you get into this industry?
I enjoyed journalism in college, whether it be writing, editing, hosting or producing. Initially, I wanted to be a SportsCenter anchor, and I got as far as being a finalist for ESPN’s Dream Job while in college, but, ultimately, I got my first job in local news after graduation. It’s certainly evolved into a lifelong passion.
What’s your newspaper/journalism journey to today?
I’ve worked for various family owned local news companies throughout my career, from Georgia to California to Alabama and South Carolina. My roles have been ever-changing, from producing digital content and writing sports to creating new products and evolving local advertising options. Local news will be important forever, but the way it’s delivered continues to change. It’s been a mission of mine to drive meaningful transformation that helps people and communities.
What’s something you’ve learned in the process?
People matter most. We’re all multi-faceted people before we’re journalists or employees.
How has working at a newspaper changed you?
More than 2,500 newspapers across the country have closed since I’ve joined the industry. More than 50% of local journalism jobs across the country have gone away. Knowing how much these realities negatively impact local communities and our world strengthens my resolve to find solutions and a path forward. Sumter is a wonderful community that needs the local news and information The Item provides, and when you see we’re making changes, it’s with the ultimate betterment of the community in mind.
What’s something you wish more people knew about your role or newspapers in general?
Most people don’t know what a publisher is, and really, it’s an outdated industry term. Today, I oversee daily operations of The Item, from content to advertising to delivery to digital operations. We have a wonderful staff that executes these on a daily basis, and I support them however I can.
What’s something completely non-newspaper-related about yourself?
Everly, our first child, is 6 months old, so life has changed dramatically recently. She’s a joy and our greatest blessing.
TIM LEIBLE
Briefly explain your role:
Sports editor
Why did you get into this industry?
I wasn’t good enough to play college football, so writing about it was the next best thing. I say that in jest, but I’ve always been a massive sports fan, and journalism was the most obvious choice for staying involved with the sports I love.
What’s your newspaper/journalism journey to today?
I went to the University of Missouri School of Journalism, graduating with a degree in convergence journalism. I then moved to the Lake of the Ozarks, where I worked for the now-defunct Lake Today (a troubling reality in our current media landscape). From there, I moved to Rolla, Missouri, where I worked for The Rolla Daily News as the sports editor. From there, I made my way here to Sumter, where I started as a sports reporter before taking over as the sports editor.
What’s something you’ve learned in the process?
The world of news moves fast. As I’m writing this, we’ve recently had changes to the high school sports season due to Hurricane Helene. In the past few weeks, I’ve attended football games on four different days of the week (just missing Tuesday for our weeknight games) for the same reason. I was here in Sumter during COVID-19, when things changed on a dime. You’ve got to stay on your toes at all times to keep people informed in this industry.
How has working at a newspaper changed you?
I’m definitely more critical of the media that I consume since joining the industry. I always take time to make sure information comes from trusted sources rather than just sharing any headline that comes across my feed.
What’s something you wish more people knew about your role or newspapers in general?
Things take time. I’m sure everyone expects a story from every single game the second after it ends. Unfortunately, I can’t be at 12 football games at once on a Friday night, so that means my weekend is spent trying to track down coaches. As much as I’d love to be able to turn around a full Friday night of action by the time the sun comes up on Saturday, that’s a tough thing to manage in the best circumstances.
What’s something completely non-newspaper-related about yourself?
Well, the newspaper industry certainly takes up a lot of my time, but when I’m not in stadiums and gyms across the tri-county, you would probably find me watching some football in the fall and baseball in the summer into the fall. But my world isn’t entirely filled with sports; I love video games (I’ve been loving the new Legend of Zelda game) and cooking, too.
BRUCE MILLS
Briefly explain your role:
I am the education and business beat reporter for The Item. For most things related to K-12, higher education and business/industry, I cover it and also work with our photographer and videographer.
Why did you get into this industry?
Actually, I was a major sports fan in my 20s, and that is what got me into public relations and then journalism. For essentially the first five years of my career in the field, I was a sports writer. I transferred over to the news side when I moved to Sumter in 2002, and now I know absolutely nothing about sports.
What’s your newspaper/journalism journey to today?
I started in college sports public relations then covered sports online for a major media outlet. Next, I was the managing editor for two professional baseball team newspapers (Go Red Sox and Mets!) In 2002, I moved to Sumter to work on the news copy desk for The Item. After four years, I took a position as a research analyst for a regional agency that served Sumter, Clarendon, Lee and Kershaw counties. My research focus was K-12 and postsecondary education, business and industry trends and the greater concept of workforce development. Now, back at the paper, my research focus from that time are the beats that I cover.
What’s something you’ve learned in the process?
Write on a level that everyone can easily understand. “Keep the cookies on the bottom shelf” is what I often say to myself.
How has working at a newspaper changed you?
I can relate to more people and carry on conversations with people from all walks of life.
What’s something completely non-newspaper related about yourself?
I am a major fan of the Chicago Cubs and N.C. State Wolfpack basketball.
JACK OSTEEN
Briefly explain your role:
Fifth-generation newspaper owner of The Sumter Item
Why did you get into this industry?
As a family newspaper owner, I felt like it was important to carry on our family history’s business and stay involved in the newspaper industry. I was the publisher of The Sumter Item for more than 12 years, and even though I serve in more of an ownership role today with The Item and other newspapers in South Carolina and Alabama, I’m truly still passionate about the importance of our industry.
What’s your newspaper/journalism journey to today?
As I said before, my newspaper journey today is more of continuing to carry on my family legacy and see that the Sumter community has a quality media company serving everyone’s needs.
What’s something you’ve learned in the process?
I’ve learned you can never stop working to improve upon what you have and adapting to the changing times, as hard as that may be.
How has working at a newspaper changed you?
It’s been a part of my life for so long, it is and will always be a part of the fabric of who I am.
What’s something you wish more people knew about your role or newspapers in general?
I hope the community sees how involved I still am with all aspects of The Sumter Item on a daily basis.
What’s something completely non-newspaper-related about yourself?
I also work for Coldwell Banker Commercial Cornerstone and specialize in brokering senior housing facilities in the Southeast.
MARK PEKURI
Briefly explain your role:
Main role is advertising /marketing; helping our local businesses reach potential customers and clients through print, online and newsletter advertising products. Other “hats” I wear: Warehouse manager – Keeping the warehouse clean and organized as magazine and newspaper products come in and go out. Magazine distribution – fill Sumter Item magazine racks weekly in Sumter, Clarendon and Orangeburg counties.
Why did you get into this industry?
Interesting question. My first job was selling Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspapers during the summer at Van Riper State Park in Upper Michigan at age 10. I would have never thought I would have been in this industry ending my working life in newspapers again as an advertising/marketing sales representative. My previous employer was Rick’s Furniture, where I handled advertising for them for newspaper and radio. When Rick’s was shrinking their workforce and letting me go, my relationship with Karen Cave, who was my Sumter Item ad rep, offered me a job the same day. That was June 2008. I have been loving working at The Sumter Item ever since.
What’s something you’ve learned in the process?
Many interesting things in marketing. These days, there are so many ways people read or gather information. As a local newspaper ad rep, I have learned how to reach people and provide services to my clients by linking our physical paper product to share through social media, online Sumter Item, newsletters, magazines and events, to name a few.
How has working at a newspaper changed you?
I think one of the biggest things of working in outside advertising sales is it forced me from being an introvert by nature to become more outgoing, from the shy young man who would be so nervous around crowds to now being able to stand in front of large groups of people and share or teach (whatever the case may be). Also, by being in sales and handling hundreds of advertising clients over the past 17 years, I have made so many new friends. I always tell folks, “I don’t just have advertising clients; I now have a lot of friends who advertise with me.”
What’s something you wish more people knew about your role or newspapers in general?
That I am here to help. I know the challenges local businesses have, as I was once in retail business myself in car sales and furniture store management prior to coming to work with The Sumter Item. I know that I have advertising tools available for them that I believe can help as we reach more people through all our sources than any other outlet in Sumter.
What’s something completely non-newspaper-related about yourself?
Married with three sons, a daughter-in-law and a new grandson born three months ago. I am fairly laid back. When not working (which is seldom), I like to walk every day for exercise. I enjoy going out to eat and during the summer enjoying our pool. I like watching movies, sporting events and news-related stuff on TV. I love going back home to the Midwest where I was born and raised and seeing family and friends in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (doing side-by-side riding and enjoying the outdoors, except the dang mosquitos and horseflies!).