In the past two weeks, there have been more important topics to cover in this space than my mid-July trip to Wales, my first time across the pond for a mix of business and vacation.

The trip was mainly to attend the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors’ (ISWNE) annual conference, which has taken me to South Dakota and Toronto in the last two years. This year, the conference was held in Cardiff, Wales, about a mile from the City Centre and the kind of big city life I grew up with.

Along with the conference sessions, there were two main reasons I made the trip. The first was because I was asked to be on a panel, also a first for me at the ISWNE conference, discussing the future of publications in the digital age. Being six months into implementing our paywall, it was of interest to our small group how it is going.

The second reason was a different kind of delightful, as on the gala night, I accepted my fourth Golden Dozen editorial writing award in the last five years. This year, I was honored for my column last year on the “Old Jailhouse Hullabaloo,” breaking down the break down of the bidding process for the old Barry County jail.

As many award-winning pieces do, that one largely wrote itself. Telling such stories in depth and with that first-person perspective is a privilege I do not take lightly, and to be recognized by my professional colleagues for doing so year after year is an immense honor.

As humbling as that honor was, what was more humbling was the location and travel experience. My first night in Wales, after having traveled 18 hours by plane and train, I embarked on my first walk to the City Centre to find a pub in which to watch the England-Argentina World Cup semifinal. 

Less than a mile from my hotel, I found the perfect one. Packed to the brim with no seats left and a 5-foot projector screen showing the game, I found a spot in the back where I could see and took in the ambience. When it comes to watching soccer games in public, it was an experience unlike any other. Standing next to me was an ethnic Englishman, Raul, who I thought was going to kiss me when the Brits put in the first goal of the game.

As it wore on and Argentina completed a comeback, Raul’s mood faded and the Argentina fans broke into song as the pub cleared out into the city streets. Much like attending two World Cup games this summer, the 90 minutes there was something I won’t soon forget.

The following morning, our ISWNE group trekked about a mile-and-a-half to Cardiff Castle. Built by the Romans and abandoned for a century, it was revived in the 1800s by a family so rich with coal money their wealth was compared to Elon Musk’s today. Their lifestyle showed it. 

The artistry, craftsmanship, heritage and expanse of turn-of-the-20th-century castle living was on full display, a museum unlike any I had ever experienced.

After sessions throughout the day, I again embarked on a City Centre journey, meandering through streets and establishments enjoying one of my favorite past-times — people-watching. Eventually, I fond my IWSNE folks in the Welsh-named pub that had been dubbed “the one with no vowels in the name.”

The following day, we took a water taxi down the bay to the Welsh Senedd (Parliament) building, where we learned a bit about the young Welsh government. Following that venture, a few of use ISWNE members went to dinner at a great Italian place nearby, then I took my longest walk yet through Cardiff — also on the day I learned our print shop and the Barry County Advertiser had shuttered. 

I walked at least four miles that night, capped by returning to Cardiff Castle at the time a concert was ending and thousands of people flooded the streets. I spent another couple hours watching people dance to street musicians and at a pub with a lively karaoke night.

The final night of the trip was our gala night, treated to a harpist and a fantastic meal capped with our awards and the last moments of mingling before preparing for trips home the following day.

I’ve written about ISWNE conference experiences before, but this year’s was unlike any other. As much as being 4,000 miles away from home made me miss it, traveling to that extent was also an eye-opener. I’d suggest to anyone and everyone to find ways to make trips happen. Whether it’s just across a few state lines or halfway around the world, seek new experiences, meet new people, see different things and immerse yourself in other cultures. 

If my experience is any indication, you won’t regret it. And, you’ll bring something back far more important than any kind of award.

Kyle Troutman has served as editor of the Cassville Democrat since 2014 and owner/publisher since 2023. He is a three-time ISWNE Golden Dozen award winner. He may be reached at 417-847-2610 or [email protected].