Oh boy, can I relate to this story, given that Vacaville is a 10-minute (if that) drive from Fairfield, where I cut my journalism teeth. I stayed in Fairfield for two years and that was at least a year too many. I made $24,000 a year (or slightly less, actually) and was constantly in debt.

These small papers have lots of talent who work their asses off and usually leave quickly. The crappy pay and constant deadline crunch, I'm sure, have a lot to do with it.

Did I learn from working at a small paper? Sure, but I learn way more from what I do these days. And like it a hell of a lot better.