There's nothing I'd like more than to defend my colleagues at my last newspaper.
Or the newspaper before that.
Or the newspaper before that.
And so on.
But there's kind of an unwritten rule for "editors who have left" to disengage from the conversation. As someone who's replaced incredible editors, I've always appreciated that.
At the same time, it breaks my heart to see unfounded, even ignorant, criticism of people working hard jobs for low wages because they care about the role of the press in the United States.
Because I've worked at so many newspapers, I know people love to hate the local "rag." (And honestly, that trope is such a cliché, the supposed critics need to be much more original.) I get it. It's almost always a monopoly and long-established. There's always a cute little nickname associated with the paper.
Part of me thinks Americans have become accustomed to getting what they want, always, all the time, no questions asked. And social media has not been a friend, stealing 50 percent of newspaper revenue while allowing inaccurate criticism without challenge.
But I assure you, dear readers, a bunch of daily newspapers are going to die in the next 18 months and I ask what you're going to do for a local gathering of news that the local paper still offers?
My heart breaks as I try to stay in this business I love so.
Peace and local news unto you my brothers and sisters.
As you note, it's too late for you to defend the reputation of the H-T. But you had your chance to defend the reputation of the H-T: you could have taken the hint and fired senior journalist Laura Lane. I tried to tell you. As long as the H-T sucks, it'll deserve its reputation .. for sucking. There is talent at the H-T, and maybe you couldn't do anything to alleviate the fact that they were spread too thin. But you could have taken out the trash. Just sayin. Go ahead and block me on here too. I know you don't like learning.
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