Thread by @JoeMcFarland

Given that it was a month ago that I made my #freeagency known, thought I'd provide a bit of a status update. First off, I have really been soaking in the "new dad" experience. Yeah, the hours suck but the company is cute as a button. #LochlanConor #yyc

I have also been keeping myself occupied on the side with #sports stuff. @ABDugoutStories has kept me busy & I have done some video work with @Okotoks_Dawgs. It helps fill the void left behind by lack of @calstampeders & @WHLHitmen games to host. So that has been fun. #yyc

When it comes to my "career", I haven't given it a ton of thought, to be honest. It was 15 years of eating, breathing & sleeping #news. Before meeting my wife, you could say I was married to my work. So I want to take full advantage of this break. Not unplugged, just slowed down.

That being said, being the dad who handles the late-night feeds does provide some time for reflection & thinking about what's next. I have had a bunch of ideas to ponder. Everything from getting back into #radio to politics (barf) to entrepreneurship to going back to school. #yyc

I haven't landed on anything yet & am still open to suggestions & ideas. The one guiding light/principle is that I need to love it. I love(d) #radio. I love telling stories. I love informing & entertaining people. That part will never go away. But is there a future there? #yyc

The media business is shrinking by the day it seems & I don't know how fun it would be to be constantly looking over my shoulder, wondering when the shareholders will need a bigger cut & the company will need to "find efficiencies." It's true of any line of work though. #yyc

The other challenge is the industry has changed so much over the last 15 years. And a big part of it surrounds the public perception around #journalism. It's like being a politician in terms of level of trust but also toxicity. Some days, it's not fun reading the texts/emails.

I also have one added hindrance & that is I have shown my cards. When I took over as a show host, I gave up my #journalism card. As soon as you start inserting your opinion into stories, you are not a journalist. You can do journalistic-y things, but you're not a journalist.

Journalists present facts & observations. They report on what has been said & done. They do research & present all findings. They don't go in with a predetermined outcome in mind. They don't present their opinion & they definitely don't make themselves the story. #yyc

That all said, I don't know if I could go back to being a reporter or news anchor. Why? Because in the eyes of some, my journalistic integrity has been compromised as I have aired my opinions. I know I can differentiate between opinion & journalism, but can everyone? #yyc

So I am at a bit of a loss there. Not closing the door on getting back into #media, I just don't know what my options will be there & I don't want to hold my breath on it. Could there be something in the start-up scene? Could I make a go of it on my own? I dunno. #yyc

As I said, the one stipulation on my future is that I need to love it. The last thing I want to do is hate my work. I want to contribute something & be proud of it. Because I want to set an example for that little set of eyes that are now watching every move I make. #yyc