Meet the new editor
Photo Courtesy of Amy Fauth
By Amy Fauth
Greene County Messenger Editor
Every day when I wake up, I feel like I need to pinch myself to affirm that I’m not dreaming. I am the editor of the Greene County Messenger.
I know that sounds awfully dramatic, but then again I have been a creative writer for 27 years. I just have to remind myself that this isn’t a story I made up in mind, and that I actually have earned this opportunity. And, I’m very excited to show to my bosses, the Greene County community, and even myself, that I deserve it!
One of the reasons why I felt this was the right opportunity for me was it feels like everything is coming full circle. While I have lived most of my life in Westmoreland County, where I reside with my husband, Chris and our son, Tyler, my roots link me to this area. My mother was born and raised in Fayette County. My late father was born and raised in Washington County, but some of his ancestors were farmers from Greene County. After losing him a year and a half ago, I believe he would be very proud to learn that I have become the editor of the Greene County Messenger.
I have big plans for the newspaper and I plan to work hard to show the community just what I’m made of. Among my top priorities is to add more local coverage and features, but I will need your help to pull this off.
This newspaper, above all else, is YOUR newspaper. So, I am asking for anyone in the community that sees news happen, or has a story or feature idea to not keep it to yourself. E-mail it to me at news@greenecountymessenger.com.
One of the new features I would like to implement is a monthly profile of one of Greene County’s community leaders. Elected officials, the leader of a non-profit organization or an advocate of the community would make a great subject. But, it also can be a leader who has touched your life, like a coach, business owner or someone who’s shown you kindness. Everyone has a story, and we would love to hear those stories and share them with the community. I have a couple in mind, but I want to know who you would like to see profiled and recognized for their work within the community.
In June of 2005, Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computers and founder of Pixar Animation Studios, told graduates at Stanford University “to find what they love.”
He went on to say, “Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did.”
When life has given me lemons – although I love lemons so I’d be alright with that – I do pause and think of that quote. I feel lucky everyday to be able to do what I love for a living.
After a long career in journalism – and more particularly local, small-town journalism – I wanted to take that next step. Being the editor of a community newspaper will give me the opportunity to not only highlight the amazing people, places and things that make up the Greene County community, but shine in ways even I have never imagined.
In my 27-year career, I’ve been around the block a few times for sure. I spent three years in a hybrid (before hybrid was cool) position as a news reporter and assistant sports editor with a daily in Westmoreland County, the Latrobe Bulletin, for four years and staff writer for another daily, the Daily Courier in Connellsville for three more years.
At that point, I shifted gears to take an advertorial writing position with the Tribune-Review and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, daily publications that are much larger than the small-town newspapers I was familiar with. As an advertorial writer, this gig gave me the opportunity to work directly with business owners, which I loved. It’s really where I discovered I had a passion for helping local businesses succeed.
My foray into the advertising side of newspapers coincided with the growth of my family, but I soon began to yearn to return to journalism. I returned slowly, spending several years freelancing for a number of dailies and weeklies and leading up to the pandemic I was working as a news writer, entertainment writer and health topics writer for the 蘑菇视频, a sister publication to the Greene County Messenger.
So obviously, I was thrilled to get an opportunity to return to the fold. As editor of the Greene County Messenger, I will strive to serve the community by bringing accurate news coverage, interesting features and community content to the people of Greene County. I look forward to the challenge.
And, thanks for letting me do what I love!