Tory N. Parrish

When I was a teenager, I wanted to be like Murphy Brown, the fearless TV journalist from the 1980s sitcom. Then, I discovered that I wasn’t too keen on public speaking, so my Murphy Brown dreams were dashed.

But I loved writing, storytelling and reading — and I was and still am a grammar nerd — so I pursued a career as a newspaper reporter.

I’m proud of the work I do because it matters to people. The phone calls and emails I receive from readers regularly show me that.

Even as an introvert, I’ve enjoyed my 21 years as a newspaper journalist. When it comes to my job, for some reason, I’m comfortable talking to strangers, so that I can convey important and accurate information to readers.

I’ve worked at four newspapers, where I’ve covered everything from education to city government to business to economic development.

Since 2017, I’ve been a business reporter, focusing on retail and small businesses, at Newsday. I enjoy business reporting more than any other beat I’ve covered because it allows me to explain the connections between readers’ everyday lives and the economy, rising inflation, ecommerce growth, retail redevelopments, changing consumer habits, etc.

I don’t take for granted the access to information and business and government officials that comes with being a reporter. In the changing journalism landscape — the number of newspapers that existed in 2005 is projected to have declined by 1/3 by the end of 2024 — that media access is shrinking. In fact, the first newspaper where I worked no longer exists. It was the Manassas Journal Messenger/Potomac News in northern Virginia, where I started as an education reporter.

I’m proud of the work I do because it matters to people. The phone calls and emails I receive from readers regularly show me that. Some of them contact me to ask if I can find out about retail and small-business changes they see in their communities, or if a national trend will be affecting their communities. Some trust me enough to give me tips that have led to important stories. Some of them email me just to vent about a topic in my articles that peeved them.I try to use their feedback to be a better reporter.

I didn’t become the next Murphy Brown. But I’m doing OK.