Not-Quite-Nostalgia

As the term winds down, it's hard to look back without experiencing something that just falls short of nostalgia. I hesitate to use that word because The Rockbridge Report, while certainly a labor of love, is a labor in every sense. As producers, we have faced plenty of challenges. We have had to learn the ins and outs of running a news Web site and a weekly news broadcast. We have had to contend with stories that fall apart, sources who don't come through, and the frustrations of airing a product we feel is less than our very best.We set out to change the core format of our Web site, to update it and give it the modern facelift it not only deserved, but needed in order to stay competitive in the constantly changing world of the Internet. Naturally, not everyone was on-board with our original changes. They nitpicked over the placement or font or color of just about every object on the page. We couldn't understand why they weren't satisfied with what we thought was a valiant effort to revamp our Web site. But you know, I'm glad they weren't satisfied. The constant pressure, while a nuisance at the time, forced us to expand our original conceptions of the site. What emerged in the end was a truly unique and visionary product.And that's where we come to the not-quite-nostalgia. There were frustrations and setbacks at almost every turn, but in the end, the sense of achievement was that much greater. Where's the fun in taking the easy route? We conquered a path that had trials and tribulations aplenty, and we lived to tell the tale. Even though the reins of The Rockbridge Report are changing hands to our more-than-capable colleagues come January, I know a small part of this production will stay with me forever.

-Brett Holton