Sarah's final P.S.

Beacon Journal editorial writer Sarah Vradenburg, a 22-year veteran of the newspaper, wrote her final PostScript on today's editorial page. Here it is:

On my first day at the Beacon Journal in 1984, I was escorted throughout the building and introduced, it seemed, to hundreds of people. Because my job was to chronicle the lives of people who work here and events at the newspaper, it was an important tour. So many people I met had been here 10, 15, even 20 years. All I could think was: ``How do people stay in a job so long?''

Now I know: Show up for work every day. It helps when the people you work with are smart, funny and passionate about their jobs. It helps even more when the job you do makes a difference to the community. I have been honored to be a part of this enterprise for nearly 23 years. I have been proud to wear the mantle first woven by John S. Knight so many decades ago, of truth-telling, of community engagement, of the highest ethical principles in the business of journalism.

I know we in Akron have mourned the demise of Knight Ridder perhaps more deeply than other cities with Knight newspapers. It was a part of us, born of one of our own. I won't pretend that I'm not angry at an economic system that favors shareholder value over the need to inform, that treats newspapers as just so many widgets. I won't deny that I've said, more than once, that if Jack Knight were alive, Knight Ridder would still be around. But that's wishful thinking. He was a businessman and a newsman. Who knows what might have been? All we have is what is.

I wrote my first ``editorial'' as a child, a naif's letter to the editor complaining about how politicians couldn't see beyond party lines to do what's right for the country. How little things have changed. I'm also amazed that I've been able to spend the past 15 years doing what I love -- writing opinion. I've made friends -- and enemies -- with the pieces that have borne my name. I appreciate most those who have disagreed with me without hiding behind the anonymity of voice mail and unsigned diatribes. Some would counter by saying we write unsigned editorials, but what we write carries the newspaper's name -- no small thing -- and individual writers' identities are just a phone call away. This country's greatness resides largely in our willingness to own our differing opinions. It's called reasoned debate.

Now it is time to move on. I look to my future with a mixture of excitement and sadness. I have plans that promise to be fun and make a positive contribution. Still, it is not possible to close a two-decade chapter without shedding a few tears. My colleagues are my family, but more important to you, those who remain here are among the best in the business. No matter how much the business of newspapering changes, they remain committed to bringing you the best in news and opinion. Jack Knight's town deserves nothing less.

Before I came to work here, I was actively involved in many facets of my adopted hometown. I plan to rejoin the ranks of citizen activist. This is far from goodbye. I'll be seeing you.

-- SARAH VRADENBURG
Editorial writer emeritus