There are very few people who so profoundly touch your life that you can’t imagine where you’d be without them. That person, for me, is James Phillips.
In 2012 I started covering high school football games for the print publication in Jasper. And, while it was another friend, Johnathan Bentley, who brought me on and was my direct contact, it would later be James who made the decision to hire me.
I was working full-time at Charter Communications while also covering those high school games. However, it was a drive to Brundidge, Alabama for an Oakman Wildcats game that, I later learned, changed my life.
A wall in the locker room used by the Wildcats fell and injured several players. I knew I was the only “reporter” there and, despite my obvious inexperience in reporting hard news, I knew this had to be done. I talked to the superintendents, the principals, the coaches, and I put together a story.
That story caught the eye of the publisher.
What started as, “be my digital guy,” soon blossomed into a friendship like no other.
It turns out that James and I made quite the team, growing social engagement, digital readership, and every other imaginable digital metric that could be found with our limited resources. What I am most proud of, however, is and always will be how we changed the game in high school football coverage with PrepZone.
When we were both fired after corporate decisions, we each felt a calling to return to what we loved so very much – serving the people of Walker County. That calling led to the founding of The Community Journal.
It exists out of love.
And make no mistake, I do love this community. And while I had to step away from the Journal when I joined WBRC in 2022, I still hope to represent my home well from a distance.
James, however, continues to strive to provide you all with the absolute best coverage he can as a one-man team. In fact, he messaged me today asking if he could post to the website from his phone since he doesn’t have a laptop at UAB. (As the person who built and designed the website, he will still ask me “how-to” questions.)
Here’s a funny, yet frustrating still argument.
I am a firm believer that growth is essential. While at our previous employer and when we started the Journal, I was adamant that we needed state and, to a degree, national news to grow the audience. This man pushed back at every turn.
“I only want local,” he would say. “That is what we are.”
And every time I lost that fight. But, it goes to show the love and passion that James has for this place.
He was born here. He lives here. He will one day die here.
His love and his passion for each and every one of you is undeniable in everything he does.
Before I took the job at WBRC, I knew I’d have to step away from our creation. I texted James and asked, “Is this okay? I don’t want you to feel abandoned. We started this together.” That is the kind of loyalty this man inspires through his love for people.
I left, and to this day, go to work every single morning high atop Red Mountain, behind those iconic bright red lights that overlook the Magic City, knowing that my home is in good hands. Knowing that all of you are in good hands.
Without James Phillips, I am not where I am today. Without his passion, his love, his conviction, a kid from Walker County is never given a chance to outgrow his potential.
His love of home drives him. You all keep him going, to push himself harder to make you all proud and to fulfill what is a lifelong calling.
As James continues his fight in the hospital, a GoFundMe has been set up to help him and his family. If anyone would like to contribute, click here.
