A New Joel

Hard to believe we are already into the second month of 2025. January was action-packed with lots of changes, some good and some bad.

One of the good changes we’ve made here at The Banner is we’ve hired an additional reporter.

In the past, a mistake that plagued bigger news entities is cutting local news reporters in favor of filling the paper with “wire news;” but we believe local stories are the lifeblood of our publication and vital to the community.

Not knocking wire news, because someone has to tell the big stories, but you can easily find that same news in five different publications; but the story about the small business opening up down the street, you’ll only find that in one (or maybe two) local publications.

So in an effort to strengthen our commitment to local news reporting, we have hired a new Joel.
Yes, a new Joel. The original Joel works just fine, he may actually work too much, but you already knew that.

Side note about original Joel, my only concern is that after one full year of threatening retirement, he’s still doing retirement wrong... he comes in to work almost every day, may not stay the whole day, he may not come in at all... which is fine, he’s earned that right. I just pictured more relaxing in retirement.

Just messing with you, Dad. You will always be welcome at the newspaper for as long as you want to be here. You are loved and appreciated.

I should get to the introductions, our new reporter’s name is Joel Lancaster.

He applied for our stringer position and after reviewing his resume, we realized he could be a valuable asset for day-to-day operations, not just writing occasionally.

He brings a wealth of knowledge to the job and has displayed an eagerness to dive into some of our upcoming projects.

Some of those projects include: A Tribute to Black History and Babies of 2024 in February, LOCAL magazine, Graduation in May, Gridiron Guide in August, A Tribute to Manufacturing in October, Basketball Guide in November and Christmas Greetings in December.

Lancaster won’t be alone in tackling these projects.

Brad Sam is a seasoned reporter on our staff who has worked with many groups over the years to capture the history of local people and businesses. His storytelling ability is matched only by his attention to detail. I’d be remiss if I didn’t give him a shout out too.

We have so many exciting stories to share with you and now two full-time journalists devoted to recording these stories.

My goal is to fill the newspaper with the necessary news, but also lots of good news.

We are each woven into the fabric of local history, but unless we take the time to appreciate all the beautiful colors in the tapestry, the moment may pass us by. Time slips away so quickly.

So, we at The Banner are not waiting around for an invitation to celebrate the people and businesses in our community and my hope is, that if we call on you, you will take a moment and share your story with us.

Also, if you want us to feature your business, don’t wait around for us to contact you, call 731-352-3323 or e-mail us at banner@mckenziebanner.com!

Finally, I asked Joel Lancaster to write a short bio about himself as an introduction. So, without further delay, here are his words.

Joel Lancaster:
It’s great to be back home in Tennessee after fifteen years of teaching in Taiwan. I was born in Paducah, spent summers in Martin, and grew up in Knoxville. In 2009, I graduated from Bethel University and headed overseas to start my teaching career. Taiwan became a second home, allowing me to travel across Asia and work with students worldwide—an experience I’ll always be grateful for.

While teaching, I earned my master’s degree and authored a thesis on U.S.-China-Taiwan relations, exploring how global policies shape everyday lives. That research deepened my understanding of international affairs and how decisions made in high offices ripple through communities, whether abroad or right here in West Tennessee.

Now, I’ve found my new home at The Banner, where my focus is simple: fact-based, ethical reporting that serves the tri-county area. Whether it’s government decisions, economic shifts, or the stories defining our region, my goal is to provide reporting people can trust.

It feels good to be back, and I’m excited to be here. Thank you for the warm welcome!