Pierce Presley
Your humble curator and guide
What’s to say? I am one of those idealistic fools who thinks journalism is not only a noble cause and craft, but my calling. I am not, however, one of those people who knew from their first rational thought that it was journalism or bust.
I did know what I was expected to be; when I was in school, people with good math skills were encouraged, almost coerced to enter engineering. And I tried that route, but after a year in college I left behind a full-ride scholarship (that I’d likely lost anyway, though I could’ve appealed) and wound up in the Marines.
I didn’t need to think much about what I was going to do while I was a Marine—it was almost entirely decided for me (though I had some input), and there weren’t many ways to get out early that weren’t dishonorable. I was nearing the end of my service when it occurred to me that I should probably give some thought to what I wanted to be. I did, and I came up with creativity, storytelling, researching and writing as the things I enjoyed most.
But journalism still wasn’t my choice; I wanted to be a screenwriter. I went to Loyola University New Orleans based on size, location, philosophy and the presence of a renowned professor who taught screenwriting. (He was on sabbatical when I arrived and left before I even met him.)
I filled out the obligatory interest card during orientation, mostly because I was very used to filling out any form handed to me. A few weeks later, an editor called and asked if I’d like to cover a story. Living alone with only a cat for company, and with not much else to do, I said “yes”. It was about the university’s new computer network.
Oh, seeing my byline was exhilarating, and I was good and hooked. In a month, I was on the front page and a staff writer. By the time I left three and a half years later, I had been a writer, photographer, analyst, editorialist, sports, editorial and feature columnist, assistant sports editor, online editor (before we even had a Web page), photo editor, news editor, managing editor and business manager.
I was county reporter for the Benton County Daily Record in Bentonville, Ark.; a temporary newsperson at the Associated Press’s Little Rock bureau; publicist for Arkansas Educational Television Network; a copy editor at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; a teacher for home- and hospital-bound students at Prince George’s County Public Schools; a graphic designer and desktop publisher for a temporary agency where I did projects for the Government Services Administration, an education-focused consultancy, a special operations-focused consultancy, and the temporary service industry association; and an state assessment test editor for a publishing/education multinational conglomerate.
I have a wife and two kids, plus two dogs, one cat, five fish and a hamster. I live in San Antonio with that zoo, and am happier for it.
I sincerely hope you enjoy Journalism Fast Forward, that it helps you and that it exceeds your expectations. Let me know if it fails at any of these.
— Pierce
