This past November, Reporting From 20XX ran across the finish line into its 7th birthday, continuing on an idea that became a project, that transformed into an entertainment media platform where independent media could be covered, whether that be in music, gaming, or any piece of culture that seemed awesome to talk about.

I had to look, but there wasn’t an editor’s note for last year, so for 2023, I want to make sure to pick the ritual back up for the bit of closure, something we all sorely need at the end of each year. For this one specifically, we’re not just concluding the time, but also doing the due diligence to start fixing a few issues that somehow got out of hand.

2023 was a year of hard lessons. Out of any period on record of working on writing, edits, content, or the like, this was a year that took on the most hardships in the pursuit of doing good things for others, while not taking into effect what those things would cost emotionally and creatively. Often, putting the platform ahead of me has put me at personal risk, and in the last two months, I’d taken a step back for the most part to examine the various issues plaguing me from a different point of view, and one that I stopped exercising at some point; from the position of being a fan.

It was underground legends of hip-hop, Ohioan artists Blueprint and Illogic, that even told this to me back on their most recent live episode of the Super Duty Tough Work podcast, one of my favorites to tune in to like clockwork every Sunday at 8pm when the episodes drop. I asked, as a music journalist, what is the most important thing I can do for artists, and without missing a beat, as per usual, Illogic said “be a fan”.

Now, that’s not saying I’m not a fan of my locals, or of the numerous traveling acts that come through Charlotte, or of the discoveries online through favorite websites and blogs, that’s not the issue at all. The real problem is when I stopped going to shows as much, whether working or strapped of the ability to grab tickets. The shows I did go to, I worked, which in itself is fine, because that supports the website, the editing apps, and any equipment we need. I also took on anything and everything asked, or attempted to, only to shame myself when I didn’t hit the marks set, even if the reasons for that were events rocking my personal life.

The issue is that once those choices are made, and the work begins, I’m not purely a fan anymore, I’m a tool for hire. When working is all that you do, even on the things you love, the lines blur, and that’s a strong reason that many creatives burn out, potentially to fall out of love with the thing you were such a fan of in the first place. It happens in the gaming industry, in animation, and it absolutely happens to writers, because unfortunately, that is fatal symptom I’ve been putting off examining, with the reasoning being the show still must go on.

So, that having been explored in depth, in silence, over meditation, countless pockets of coffee, many cozy game sessions, and in talking to others, I simply have this to say to myself;

“No, dummy. What are you doing?”

As the clock strikes 12 on Sunday night, that is my commitment to 2024. I want to walk the walk again and turn back the clock a bit before I started to run at break-neck speed before checking to see if the way was clear. That means slowing down and taking the time to explore the internet again, for musicians and bands that strike that chord, for exciting games, for shows worth exploring in depth, and for cultural happenings that garner interest.

When I started RF20XX, it wasn’t as much work. I can still connect to those moments, with memories of barely noticing the long hours spent into the night at my computer, only to have an awesome bit of prose out of it by the end, or a blog post that I thought was cool because it was made with the intent of showing people what actually happens in Charlotte, NC.

THAT feeling, no matter how small its flame has gotten at times, is what still burns at the center of this platform, and keeps me here trying to figure out the puzzle of how to bring that love to the readers that enjoy this platform for what it does.

So, friends of the platform, whether you read what we write, have worked with us as an artist or a band, have dropped sneak peeks at games or features coming soon, or have supported as a fellow creative, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for everything once again. This platform would be for naught without you, and I’d be living in a much less interesting timeline, so I’m glad to be sharing this one with you all.

In 2024, if you love something, make the time. Be a fan.

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