I left the newspaper business and journalism in November but I didn’t suddenly drop one of my lifelong interests in the process. Yeah, I still believe in open government and transparency at every level -- from the smallest town councils to the White House. It’s the least government and elected leaders can do: Operate where … Continue reading Sunshine Week: The public always deserves as many answers as possible
Reporting and journalism
Updated: A big night for N.C. journalists and some of my favorite people
Updated to add information on another winner. --- I first started going to the annual Winter Institute held by the North Carolina Press Association in around 1987. I recall it only because the contest rules for entering stories, photos, illustrations and other print newspaper goodies are basically the same now as they were then – … Continue reading Updated: A big night for N.C. journalists and some of my favorite people
Spreading the word on #ElonDay
Today is Elon Day – my first as a staff member. It’s set aside as a 24-hour period to drum up support for the university. Students, current and past, are involved in a variety of activities -- on and off campus as are members of the faculty and staff. It’s a big fund-raising day but … Continue reading Spreading the word on #ElonDay
Don Bolden, the mild-mannered marathon man
Ask most people in Alamance County and they’d say Don Bolden is Burlington’s best example of the mild-mannered reporter. Quiet, unassuming, modest to a fault -- Don is every one of those things. He evolved into a mild-mannered editor, too, then made the transition to easy-going editor emeritus. He’s the quintessential nice guy who’s also … Continue reading Don Bolden, the mild-mannered marathon man
A former editor photo bomb
Oops. That's the first thing I thought Wednesday morning when I got a first look at the Burlington Times-News print edition. There I was, the former executive editor on the front page and I wasn't in jail or anything. I wound up in a secondary photo on page A1 from the newspaper's coverage of the … Continue reading A former editor photo bomb
Bullying, burgers and politically rude BS: Some things never change
I thought my days of writing about Tim Sutton were over – and thankfully so. But as the oft-repeated line by Michael Corleone from the otherwise forgettable film “The Godfather III” goes: “Every time I think I’m out, they pull me back in.” In fact, one of the best perks of leaving the newspaper business … Continue reading Bullying, burgers and politically rude BS: Some things never change
The demise of satire in an Unlampoonable Age
Satire is nearly dead. Irony is roadkill. And sarcasm? Well, it decided to go drinking with friends and found it had none. Common sense, by the way, is on life support and not expected to make it. Such is life in a world diving headlong into shallow mockery as a standard. It's impossible to tell … Continue reading The demise of satire in an Unlampoonable Age
The future roles of government, politics at the next Community Connections
When planning began for this year’s schedule of Community Connections forums I was very much still entrenched in newspapers and the Burlington Times-News, where I was executive editor for almost 10 years. A lot can change in a few weeks and months. That first meeting to plot our fourth year of public conversations about issues … Continue reading The future roles of government, politics at the next Community Connections
My favorite thank you note. Yes, we can get along
Back in the days when I was a newspaper editor, that precarious time long ago in November 2016 when it seemed all but certain that the Green Bay Packers would miss the NFL playoffs, there were really only a handful of things I would tell reporters just starting at the Times-News. I'm talking beyond the … Continue reading My favorite thank you note. Yes, we can get along
Libraries yesterday, today and tomorrow
When MJ Wilkerson asked if I would be interested in joining a committee tasked to chart the future of Alamance County libraries, I was flattered. But more than that, there is a history. My grandmother was a key figure in bringing a library to Stokes County decades ago. My first career was in newspapers and … Continue reading Libraries yesterday, today and tomorrow
Madison's Avenue 