In 2015, when Beacon was just emerging as a local progressive powerhouse for political news and analysis, I caught my political hero Mike Tipping’s eye when I posted a long commentary about climate change on my personal Facebook page. He messaged me and asked if I would be interested in turning that commentary into a post for Beacon.
Little did I know that that post would begin a partnership with Beacon that would span 78 published articles and nearly three years–a period of time during which I got to grow as a writer as well as observe Beacon grow into one of the most widely-read state-based political news sites in the country.
But as I forge ahead in my second year of law school, I have made the bittersweet decision to step back from the coolest freelance gig a young progressive could ask for and bring my time as a contributor to an end.
It’s not an easy thing to give up. This role has given me the platform from which I have been able to amplify the presence of young progressives in our local politics, shine a light on the actions (and strategic inactions) of some of the most powerful politicians in our state, and meditate on the condition and trajectory of progressive organizing in Maine and America. In these fraught and often alienating political times, interactions with readers have served as a constant reminder for me that ours remains a movement of shared struggle and shared vision for justice.
And seeing the growth of Beacon has reminded me that the market for strong analysis and progressive vision is only expanding.
I have been on hand to see Beacon break open giant stories in Maine politics that would never have seen the light of day, had it not been for the team’s diligent investigations. I have seen the site provide needed signal boosts for countless others that in turn have spurred real reaction and change in our politics and our communities. And along the way, I have done my best to underline some of those stories by adding my two cents into the mix. That I was able to do that for this long has been a privilege.
I’m looking forward to continuing to read and listen to Mike, Lauren, Andrew, Taryn, Ben, and the rest of the growing team as they continue to pull villains out of the shadows, highlight overlooked heroes, and reveal the occasional rays of hope for us all. In an era that has seen the sludge of anonymous, toxic, and fake political news reach our state, being a part of the Beacon project has reminded me that when you are on the right side of history you can tell the stories you think need to be told without compromising your integrity or the truth.
It’s a lesson I will gratefully carry with me as I begin this new chapter.
Grady Burns speaking at the 2016 Maine Democratic Convention. (Photo: Andi Parkinson)
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