Landing in the newspaper business is not usually something you strive for when you’re young.

The astronauts, cowboys, firefighters and police still have the cool jobs and are the stars at career day.

Finding a career path in newspapers is generally something you stumble upon later in life; at least that’s how it happened to me.

What you take away from the job also varies from person to person. There’s a certain fulfillment that comes with writing a good story.

Or when you get that phone call that says, “thank you.”

Or when you run the photo of that wanted person who, thanks to your article, is found and arrested.

Those are all moments that bring your work into perspective.

It’s not about the money. There’s not a ton of that to go around.

It’s not about the accolades. There’s never enough of those to go around.

I received a nice note from Robertson Bank President Al Garrett Thursday congratulating us. A pat on the back from our regular readers are some of the best awards you can receive.

The job – the effort that goes into writing a story, finding compelling pictures, asking questions and crafting it all into something that is worth reading – is not about the awards.

But they are nice.

Late last week the Demopolis Times was notified that the newspaper won two first and two second place awards in an Alabama newspaper contest.

The contest was judged by a panel of newspaper peers in Nebraska.

And while I can’t think of any newspaper journalist who is in this business for the recognition, I don’t know of any who can’t appreciate receiving it.

The awards signify that, at least for one edition or on a given topic, the Demopolis Times was the best – or second best – that the entire state had to offer in 2011.

I am fortunate to work with some very talented and good people.

These awards were not individual achievements. They were awarded to the newspaper.

We are pleased to share them with you, and we appreciate your inviting us into your homes twice every week to tell the tales of our friends and neighbors.