Jonesboro, AR – JonesboroRightNow.com – Jonesboro Right Now is celebrating its second birthday, and I’m so excited to be part of the celebration!
My name is Rachel Rudd. I’ve been with JRN for over a year and a half, starting as editor-in-chief in September 2024. However, you may notice that my title in the featured image is chief reporter. This isn’t a mistake; it’s all part of my JRN journey – my JRNey if you will.
I followed in the footsteps of founding editor Rachel Anderson. It was overwhelming because it felt like I was being asked to start raising someone else’s kid. Anderson had built something great with JRN and laid a solid foundation; I didn’t want to come in with a sledgehammer and break it all.
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A great mentor, Anderson showed me the ropes of JRN. She, along with several others, was great about showing me how this whole thing worked, and their wisdom and insight are something I’ll always be grateful for.
While I enjoyed my time as editor and learned a lot, I’ve always loved reporting. I did some reporting during my time as editor when I could, and published many stories I’m still proud of. However, it was something I wanted to be doing every day.
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It worked out so that our current editor, Tarah Richardson, could take over, and I would stay on the JRN team as its chief reporter. It was a change I was, and still am, very happy with.
There’s definitely been some adjustments to my daily schedule. I’m not the one giving the story assignments anymore, I’m the one doing them. I’m at my desk a lot less frequently; instead, I’m usually out covering an event or going to an interview.
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One thing that hasn’t changed? Coffee consumption. If anything, I’m probably consuming more, so I showed up energized for the next thing I have to go to. Not that I mind, though, I’m a big coffee fan!
Another thing that has not changed is my love for journalism and JRN. I’m still getting to do what I love every day, in a role I love, and in a newsroom I love. I could not be prouder of where JRN has come in the past two years, and that is thanks to the hard work and dedication of everyone who’s ever been involved with this site.
I am so excited to see where we go from here. Of course, I hope for JRN’s continued growth and success, but I am also hopeful that you and the greater Northeast Arkansas community continue to trust us as your source of local news.
Let’s see where the next step of the JRNey goes!
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