Two months ago, 61-year-old editor Pat Stannard left the Waltham Forest Guardian in a round of redundancies. Here, she tells about the time since leaving the paper and her plans for the future.

The family Christmas cake has provided both high and low points in the two months since I was made redundant from my job as editor of the Waltham Forest Guardian, in East London.

With time on my hands, I decided the cake needed a bit more attention than the usual royal icing slapped into snow peaks and topped with a plastic Santa and sprig of holly.

Armed with a suggestion from a magazine, I spent two hours moulding a family of penguins in a field of snowballs and crushed sugar cubes to provide the glitter. And it’s a triumph – even if the icing on the birds’ eyes has slipped and they look like a posse of mad gangsters.

I don’t want the cake to be cut. We’ll save it for next year.

The downside is that half way through the task I found myself thinking: “What on earth are you doing, woman? You’ve spent your adult life in local newspaper journalism, feeling that thrill when a really good story pops into view, annoying the powers-that-be by exposing their shortcomings, helping change people’s lives with campaigns. And now your big thrill is a Christmas cake! This has to change.”

To be fair, my plan was to take a couple of months off following redundancy – partly to deal with the feelings of grief and separation and partly to come up with a sensible plan for the future.

There aren’t many openings for 61-year-old journalists, even experienced ones who still feel they have plenty to give before taking retirement – and could do with an income.

I’ve missed the paper (even the website) and the stimulating atmosphere in the office. I’ve missed the mad moments and the bad jokes that kept us going even in difficult weeks.

Most of all, I’ve missed the pleasure of working with a team of people who have kept me young at heart.

And there is another kind of mourning going on. After 40-plus years in the best job in the world, it is heartbreaking to see what is happening to the newspaper industry.

Though sales in the local weekly field have fallen, they still provide an important service and a rare vehicle for the public to voice their concerns and ideas and share their views. Britain will be poorer without strong local papers.

I’ve kept reasonably busy since October. I’m a chair of governors at a school which had its Ofsted in November and I’ve given more time than usual to my other voluntary roles.

But it isn’t enough. The new year means actively looking for work. Part-time will do, but the job must have some bite to it. All ideas welcome.

Comments

Mr_Osato (05/01/2009 09:25:49)
I have much sympathy for the lady – but ‘chair’ of governors? From someone who has spent 40 years in the local newspaper industry? Surely that’s a shooting offence. She’ll be becoming a ‘spokesperson’ next, no doubt

Out but not down (05/01/2009 11:28:51)
I’ve every sympathy with Pat, although I’m five years younger my situation’s more or less the same.
I’m developing quite a few freelance writing ideas with former advertising colleagues who’ve left the newspaper industry and there’s website content writing.
Don’t give up – we’ve got to weather this storm and remember our skills are still appreciated by some people out there, we just have to find them!

only way is up (05/01/2009 20:35:37)
I can see this happening more and more in areas where the bigger players are retreating from markets and abandoning communities.

The Dom (23/02/2010 12:14:34)
Good luck, Pat. I have much respect for the lady who gave me break in journalism. A fine editor to boot.