As an editor and avid consumer of news, one of my least favorite things is when writers bury the lead. So I will get right to it: I’m leaving Kidscreen. After five amazing years working my way up from online writer to editor of Kidscreen Daily, it’s time for me to move on to my next chapter.

I’ve written many stories during my tenure here about executives leaving their companies, but didn’t give much thought to writing my own one day. So I find myself, for once, at a bit of a loss of words. But what I really want to say is thank you.

My very first day at Kidscreen, former editor Lana Castleman came over to my desk and told me she was booking me flights to Miami. I’ve basically been along for the ride ever since. Thank you to everyone who made going to Miami, Cannes, Toulouse, Las Vegas, London, Sheffield and more so enjoyable. This is an incredibly welcoming industry, and I wouldn’t have been able to write half of the stories I did if you hadn’t all trusted me, shared your thoughts and, of course, your gossip (most of which I promise to take to my grave, unless I start the much-requested and feared kids industry gossip column).

These past five years, I’ve learned so much about the kids industry, and the entertainment industry at large. But there’s one thing that will always bother me about this space: No one takes the kids industry half as seriously as they should.

I’ve spent so much time trying to convince people that this industry is a big deal that makes hundreds of billions every year. Yet people continue to underestimate it…and by extension, all of you. It used to irk me, but now I see it this way—you’re all the best kept secret of the entertainment industry. There are faults and areas that need improvement, of course, but there’s no other industry where people are as passionate, as kind and as dedicated to making the world a better place for the next generation. Keep at it!

I’ll miss you all.

And I can’t say goodbye without thanking the entire Kidscreen team, past and present. It’s been a delight! But a particular callout to Jocelyn, Megan, Ryan, Jeremy, Elizabeth, Nelson, Lia, Taylee and Apeksha. I look forward to seeing what you do next.

Publisher’s Note: We are going to miss you like crazy, too! And we can’t wait to see what you do next. I’m predicting big things…