Hello, I'm home

Same question, different boss.

In my near-decade stint in the print journalism industry — one that already includes myriad stops in five different states — every hiring editor tossed me this inquiry late in the interview process.

“Where do you want to end up?”

The first two asked as a formality. The rest, growing ever-wiser to my gypsy tendency, genuinely wanted to know how long I’d stick around their respective fishwraps.

Each quick-fire response was the same: Home.

Helena, Mont.; Lewiston, Idaho; Odessa, Texas; Minot, N.D.; Pendleton, Ore. — each presented opportunities for a relatively wet-behind-the-ears journalist to improve.

Each city and newsroom was a cultural and social contrast from the last, each of which helped me improve as a writer and grow as a person.

They weren’t Coeur d’Alene, though, the town where, 10 years ago, the genesis of my career was a made-from-my-bedroom prep sports blog rife with enthusiasm and AP-style errors.

In lieu of working near one of the most picturesque lakes on the continent, I was driving past towering West Texas oil derricks en route to multi-million-dollar prep football stadiums, or ascending the Lewiston Grade, temporarily escaping the paper-mill-induced stench, to cover an event at Wazzu.

There was no lakefront resort or Roger’s Ice Cream and Burgers — no burgeoning communities small enough for regular run-ins with eighth-grade friends or relatives while pumping gas.

I’m back now, though. Older, wiser, no longer in the sports department but with the same journalistic and storytelling fervor I had the morning I excitedly fetched the newspaper that included my first byline.

Finally, I get to tell stories that matter in an area that matters to me.

I’m home.

•••

Ryan Collingwood will cover Kootenai County for The Press. He can be reached at rcollingwood@cdapress.com, (208) 416-5112 or on Twitter @RyanCDAPress.

He fills out a newsroom already inhabited by several other intrepid Press reporters and photographers.

• Brian Walker, a 15-year Press reporter, covers the cities of Post Falls, Rathdrum and Spirit Lake. Reach him at bwalker@cdapress.com, (208) 699-4562 or @BrianCDAPress.

• Devin Heilman has been writing and reporting for The Press since 2013. She writes features, covers community events and the city of Hayden. Contact Heilman at dheilman@cdapress.com, (208) 664-8176 ext. 1111 or @DevinCDAPress.

• Keith Cousins joined The Press staff in 2013. His beat includes the city of Coeur d’Alene and the courts. Cousins can be reached at kcousins@cdapress.com, (208) 664-8176 ext. 2010 or @KeithCDAPress.

• Jake Parrish, Press chief photographer, is completing his first year on the editorial staff. Contact Parrish at jparrish@cdapress.com, (208) 664-8176 ext. 2006 or @JakeCDAPress.

• Bethany Blitz covers education. She joined The Press in March. She can be reached at bblitz@cdapress.com, (208) 664-8176 ext. 2015 or @BethanyCDAPress.

• Loren Benoit, photographer, came to The Press a few months ago. Benoit can be contacted at lbenoit@cdapress.com, (208) 664-8176 ext. 2018 or @LorenCDAPress.