Good Morning, and Good Day, Citizens of 20XX,

Two weeks ago today, Queen City Nerve announced its immediate closure after 8 years of publication. Not quite 8 years ago, adding a few months, I spoke on this blog about the sheer terror that seized many of us at the closure of another local publication, Creative Loafing.

It is quite a time to be a journalist and writer in an era where it feels like things could drop out at any point with no warning. I struggled with that for the following days, already dealing with my own personal troubles, and by that Sunday, I made a decision; Get back to training the pen-holding hand, Rocky III style, and focus on getting back in the Reporting ring.

As long as Reporting From 20XX has been around, I’ve freely distributed my energy and focus to multiple projects. I like being helpful, I like seeing people succeed, that’s part of why RF20XX exists in the first place. What that attitude and mindset’s not helpful for is building up this platform to its full potential. It’s that saying… can’t pour from an empty cup? Something like that. Not that those efforts didn’t help sharpen my skills.

Through our local outlets, Queen City Nerve, CLTure, and Qnotes, I’ve built up a more honed skill set by covering bigger community stories, challenging myself to look deeper when it comes to reviewing art, and have only grown the heart I set out with back in 2016 to care more about the subjects I’d like to uplift. To each, I offer my utmost thanks and reverence. I’ve never forget the lessons I learned while under the different editors and mentors.

Much like Bruce Wayne after his journey learning from the top martial arts masters of the world, it’s time to put those acquired skills to work at home.

All that to say, a lot more time is going to be spent here. For the Independent Artists of Charlotte and the World over, there’s a home for them all at RF20XX. Music, Film, Gaming, Illustrated Page & Written Word; I look to the future with bright eyes, all while knowing the dark circles will eventually be permanent from the late nights. Let’s Get Started.

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Last Monday, I, on the Reporting From 20XX Instagram, asked if our followers would be interested in a RF20XX official zine. A few meetings over the week later, the answer I’d hoped for surfaced; Yes. So now, we’re going to fill those future pages here.

Things are just getting started again. Yeah, if you look at our Instagram and Facebook, you’ll know we didn’t go anywhere, but there’s a difference between running in place and actually jetting off to destinations unknown. RF20XX’s been doing a lot of the former, so how exciting is it to go back to the fundamentals? Answer; Very.

We’ll see you this week in the blogspace! Stay tuned for more, all in the year of 20XX. ~

With love, thanks, & sincerity,
– Jonny G.

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