Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Commentary: Where do we go from here?

The Akron Beacon Journal will never be a great newspaper again, but it can still be a good one. That's the conclusion of a blog commentary you will find on the new BJ Retirees web site--or you can just click on the headline to go straight there.

These are sad times. Things are still shaking down at the Beacon Journal. This is not in the commentary, but one volunteer leaving the copy desk will not fix the plight of a staffer with three kids whose husband is gone. That's because the small daytime copy desk will be shut down and the early press run discontinued. It would be difficult for her to work nights and care for her family. These are sad times.

So the question asked by the commentary is "Where do we go from here?" Akron is also no longer a great city, but those of us who live here still believe it is a good city. Imagine what it would be like to live in a community without a daily newspaper.

The Beacon staff must provide one--and it still can be a good one..

You can leave your own comments below.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Geez, Harry, you missed your calling. You should have been the editorial page editor. I can't think of one thing I would add to what you said.

Except maybe to echo your commentary that Tony Ridder is a jerk, a rich, spoiled yacht-riding brat who ran KRI into the ground. And that it would not have happened under John Knight's watch.

And BJ employees, and maybe we retirees when the Canadian gets around to cooking our benefits bacon, paid the price for Ridder's incompetence.

Well done, my former State Desk editing colleague.

Anonymous said...

I just keep reading more and more sad news about the BJ. I loved working there and always enjoyed the friendship of many people who now seem to be in jeopardy. I often reminisce about my library days at the BJ with my new library friends at the Wadsworth Public Library. There are many former and current BJ employees who use the Wadsworth library: Laura Haferd, John Vicars, Terry Yancer and Bob Lewis. It's always nice to share a few words with them. My leaving was bittersweet, but it was the right move at the right time for me. So many left at the paper don't have that choice!

My thoughts and prayers are with all those still at the paper and those who will be leaving - voluntarily or otherwise! What a waste of so much talent!

Sandy Bee Lynn

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