Local newspapers used to be in the business of creating community treasures. They did so either through stories about people who step up to make a positive difference time after time in the cities and towns where they live or through manufacturing them in-house. The former was relatively easy. The latter takes some doing. Time … Continue reading Saying goodbye to Frances Woody, a community treasure
The death of newspapers
Updated: Bob Sutton, the hardest working man in journalism is looking for what’s next
UPDATE: My longtime friend and former newspaper colleague at the Burlington Times-News is being honored July 21, 2020 by the city of Burlington, which declared in a proclamation with a bunch of whereases and therefores that today is Bob Sutton Day in Burlington noting his 25 years of high achievement and service as sports editor … Continue reading Updated: Bob Sutton, the hardest working man in journalism is looking for what’s next
Goodbye to the Newseum; hopefully it’s not the end of the story
Friday after roaming through six floors of images, exhibits, interactive features and videos telling the compelling story of journalism, the First Amendment and news we had one big question. Back on the first floor after an emotional, inspiring and exhausting journey through some of the most tragic stories of the past two centuries, my wife … Continue reading Goodbye to the Newseum; hopefully it’s not the end of the story
An anniversary of the beginning of the end . . . a newspaper story
I don't remember much about how Nov. 20, 2014 began. I only know it was a Thursday because I looked it up. Almost everything else is a big blank. I was still working in those days for the Burlington Times-News, where I was executive editor. I imagine I came into the office shortly after 8:30 … Continue reading An anniversary of the beginning of the end . . . a newspaper story
Updated: Concerned about the death of local news
UPDATE NOV. 14, 2019: The vote by shareholders concerning the future of a planned $1.2 billion merger of two large newspaper corporations is underway today, according to this story in the Burlington Times-News, one of newspapers impacted by this deal. I expect it to be approved, which will combine GateHouse Media (New Media) and Gannett … Continue reading Updated: Concerned about the death of local news
Speaking of journalism: What I told a civic club in 2014
This is the basic text of a speech I gave to the Burlington Kiwanis Club five years ago -- May 29, 2014 -- back when I was editor of the Burlington Times-News. I was coming to the end of my journalism career then and I knew it. But I had seen a lot in terms … Continue reading Speaking of journalism: What I told a civic club in 2014
Departing the best job ever for an even better one
Last spring I was working on a writing project about the Numen Lumen Pavilion at Elon University. While I was interviewing a student about the role the building plays on campus he had a question for me. "So, do you talk to students and professors about things here at Elon and write feature stories about … Continue reading Departing the best job ever for an even better one
The reality of a world without newspapers
I had a depressing conversation with my mother on Sunday. It's not the first time. It won't be the last. The subject is a familiar one -- the slow demise of newspapers. My mom is 86 years old, a graduate of the School of Journalism at the University of North Carolina and a healthy consumer … Continue reading The reality of a world without newspapers
Foreshadowing: Looking back, the end was obvious
A couple of years ago I wrote a column about some newspaper resolutions I had on one of those giddy -- not to mention halcyon -- reporting and editing days way, way back in 1990. In hindsight those were great days. Sure the Internet had emerged as something very real and was becoming a noticeable … Continue reading Foreshadowing: Looking back, the end was obvious
Disappearing newspapers and history — casualties of time
My history is disappearing. This certainly isn’t new, but there’s not much comfort in that familiarity. It happens to us all. That is the essence of time. Time is the original son of a bitch. Old schools give way to new ones. Buildings that were once landmarks are toppled to make way for new structures. … Continue reading Disappearing newspapers and history — casualties of time
Madison's Avenue 