It is rare that I launch work-related posts on this family blog. However, a new chapter is beginning for the Smith family.
After nine years as Local6.com's managing editor, I'm beginning a new journey as the online social media director at the Walt Disney Company.
As an Internet Broadcasting employee embedded inside the Post Newsweek organization, I have been lucky enough to study and learn from two top-notch management teams. And both teams understand my decision to leave "the trenches."
PN general manager Henry Maldonado overwhelmed with kind words.
"Tom Smith is moving to a small, small world and we wish him all the best. The small world he is moving to is, of course, the giant world of Disney where he will continue to pursue his destiny to dominate the Internet, and by default, the world," Henry wrote to PN employees.
"Tom leaves Local6.com as the top news Web site in Central Florida, a position we will continue to hold thanks to his leadership. His total commitment to our site has been nothing less than consuming and his passion for this industry is infectious…"
I will always be thankful to Henry and former news director Skip Valet (now at KPRC-TV) for allowing me to fly when the destination was unknown.
"Goodbye" words from IB supervisor and friend Steve Cope were also touching.
"I just wanted to say how much I personally will miss having Tom Smith on the team. He has been a great person to work with -- a skilled journalist with an amazing work ethic and a true master at finding ways to pull in visitors to his site," Steve wrote to Internet Broadcasting workers.
"…I know he can look back on his years as a Web managing editor and say, 'In the words of Disney's Alice In Wonderland, Well! After his, I shall think of nothing of falling down the stairs!'"
Both letters were filled with praise that I'm not sure I deserve.
During the last week, some coworkers have applauded my decision to leave what they call "an industry in free fall."
It's an uncomfortable time for TV news. And the battle to remain relevant and rise above "the noise" online has been exhausting during the last several years.
I've openly discussed strategy on how a few scrappy superstars could chop away at Local6.com and others to win an overcrowded Orlando market with too many news sites and stations delivering the same message.
However, it's not "broken arrow" time.
Smart, passionate people always find ways to survive and thrive. And WKMG and Internet Broadcasting are loaded with talent.
The battle for survival is a conversation I will likely continue in the future.
Now, it's time to make some magic with all-stars like Duncan Wardle, Leanne Jakubowski, Craig Dezern, Miguel Piedra and others whip-smart people at Disney.
The journey begins this week…
