Ever since Gregg MacDonald started writing for his high school newspaper, he has been writing articles for many different newspapers.

MacDonald wrote for his school newspaper until he graduated. After graduation, he took journalism classes in college and communication classes in graduate school to help him pursue his career in the newspaper field.

MacDonald and two of his friends decided to start a newspaper in East Tennessee.

 “We called it the Volunteer Times because Tennessee is the Volunteer State,” MacDonald said. “My two partners became co-publishers, one in charge of advertising, and the other in charge of the business side. I was the managing editor in charge of editorial. We had only 12 employees.”

When MacDonald left Tennessee and moved, he sold it. Now, MacDonald is working for the Fairfax Times as a business and criminal justice reporter. He has been writing for the Fairfax Times for about seven years. Some of his articles were even mentioned by other newspapers.

“Locally, I have had articles in the Washington Post, Fairfax County Times, Loudoun Times-Mirror and The Connection,” MacDonald said. “I have had my articles also mentioned in the New York Times, Washington Times, Washington Business Journal and mentioned on NPR and all the local TV news stations.”

Although MacDonald prepares himself for work, he is most stressed out about not knowing the future of the newspaper industry.

“I watch the early morning news on television,” MacDonald said. “I check out several blogs and news websites online, and then I read the Washington Post from cover to cover.”

Writing stories that can changes the lives of people and make a difference is what MacDonald enjoys most about his career.

“Many times people have told me that after I wrote about their issues, or exposed something, the problem was soon fixed,” MacDonald said. “Journalism is a powerful force that can do some good.”

MacDonald looks up to Tom Jackman, Paul Harvey, Andy Rooney, Bill Maher and Edward R. Murrow and learned much from them.

“Tom Jackman told me to be hard-hitting in going after the truth. Paul Harvey told me to tell a story well and keep them interested,” MacDonald said. “Andy Rooney taught me to look at things and ask many questions and get all the answers. Bill Maher made me realize that in telling the truth about things, some people will get mad but that is alright. And Murrow taught me that journalism is an honorable and necessary profession.”

As a business and criminal justice reporter, MacDonald is very passionate about journalism and is worried for the future.

“It is in trouble,” MacDonald said. “We need journalists now more than ever. Just because you can read something for free online, doesn’t mean it’s true.”

Visit the Volunteer Times at www.volunteertimes.com.