We'd like to introduce you to a key member of our editorial team here in Simcoe County, whose name often appears on your BarrieToday news feed: Nathan Taylor.
Nathan is a reporter at OrilliaMatters whose work includes coverage of municipal councils, local issues and just about anything else that is happening in our community.
Enjoy this Q and A with Nathan:
1. Where did you attend post-secondary school, and what did you study?
Loyalist College in Belleville where I studied print journalism, plus completed a post-grad course in online journalism/new media.
2. What drew you to journalism?
In high school, I was interested in law, but no lawyers in the area were taking on high school co-op students. It makes sense, now that I think about it, given the sensitivity of that area of work and the lack of practical experience available to a teenager.
My co-op teacher suggested the Simcoe Reformer newspaper because I performed well in English classes. At 17 years old, I was given my own column and had the opportunity to cover breaking news, protests, community events and more. I also learned how to develop film. All of those experiences gave me a leg up when I started at college and convinced me that journalism was what I wanted to do.
3. What have been some of the highlights of your journalism career so far?
The typical lack of a routine has always been a highlight — not knowing what to expect from day to day. It keeps things interesting.
What remains a consistent highlight is sharing people's stories with a broad audience. Whether they're feel-good stories or tragic stories or anything in between, it's a privilege to be able to inform the community of what's happening.
I've also been able to interview and meet some people I never thought I would have the chance to at a community news outlet. During my 14 years of reporting in Orillia, I've been able to interview a number of celebrities, mainly those who have performed at Casino Rama, including rock stars and comedians.
In the end, though, the local community is the priority and I'm grateful for the opportunity to tell a variety of stories from a variety of perspectives.
4. What brought you to the area?
When I graduated from journalism school, my first reporting gig was to fill in for a maternity leave at my hometown paper, the Tillsonburg News. When that was over, I applied for a handful of jobs at newspapers across the province. The Orillia Packet & Times was the first to call.
I drove here from Norfolk County in the dead of winter for my interview. Despite getting only a few hours of sleep the night before, the interview must have gone well. I was offered my first full-time, daily newspaper job shortly after. I was able to work with a talented team of writers and editors whose support enabled me to advance my career from cub reporter in 2007 to regional editor in 2016.
5. What are your favourite stories to write?
The feel-good stuff. I know a lot of people get into reporting for the rush to be first, the hard news. While I do thrive in those situations, there's nothing quite like the feeling of sharing positive news with people.
It's a balance that is needed, especially during times like this, when doom and gloom seem so prevalent. I also enjoy covering the city council and education beats. The issues dealt with at both levels have wide-ranging implications for most, if not all, of our readers.
6. What do you find is the most challenging part of writing a story?
The greatest challenge for me is speaking with people in times of crisis and tragedy. My heart beats faster when I pick up the phone to call someone who has lost a loved one or experienced some kind of trauma. Sometimes they don't want to talk about it, but more often, I find they do. They want to let people know who a person was, what they meant to their families and to the community as a whole.
But, taking those first steps toward starting that conversation will probably always make me anxious. Another challenge is sufficiently covering all of the important news in the region. We have a small team and a large coverage area that includes Orillia, Oro-Medonte, Rama First Nation, Ramara and Severn. Things will get missed, but we try to bring attention to as many important issues in the area as we can.
7. What is one of your journalism career goals and/or dream story?
I have rarely set career goals for myself. During my early days at the Packet & Times, I was often asked by people in the community whether I wanted to eventually work for the Star or the Globe. Neither, I told them. That wasn't the goal. I quickly felt a connection to Orillia like nowhere else I'd lived, and that feeling remains.
I also don't have many dream stories, though I'm still holding out hope I can one day do a Simcoe County burger tour to see who has the best burgers in the region. Getting paid to eat my favourite food seems like a pretty good gig.
