RIDENOUR, MACKINNON, SCHIELY, SCOT FAGERSTROM TAKE GANNETT BUYOUTS AND ARE LEAVING BJ

 

And the exit dirge goes on

It’s not quite as large a crowd as the 2016 exodus when more than 500 years of experience walked out the BJ door on the same day, but Marla Ridenour, Jim Mackinnon, Karren Schiely and Scot Fagerstrom have accepted the latest Gannett buyout and will be ending their BJ careers.

There will be a Saturday, November 5 gathering (on my 90^th birthday, incidentally) for the quality quartet in the Missing Falls Brewery, 540 S. Main Street, Suite 112 in Akron open to ALL BJ alumni.

Betty Lin-Fisher, who posted the news, will turn any electronic payments (only, no later than Thursday) donations into farewell gift cards for the foursome. Drinks and food will be available for participants to purchase.

Betty added:

If you do PayPal, please choose “friends and family” (not goods and services) so PayPal doesn’t charge us and take some of the money as fees. (Or better yet, choose one of the other options).

Venmo: @Betty-Lin-Fisher

PayPal: blinfish70@gmail.com

Zelle: 330-607-0718

The 2016 exodus was preceded by, in 2001, the departure of ports columnist Tom Melody, chief artist Art Krummel, the copy desk’s Sandy Levenson, columnist Mickey Porter, Features Department editor Joan Rice, superb writer Bill Bierman, Reference Librarian Diane Lynch, copy editor George Davis, editorial board member Tim Hayes, Metro reporters Bill Canterbury, Bob Hoiles and Dennis McEaneney, Mark Braykovich, reporter Barb Mudrak Galloway, columnist Steve Love, Jim Quinn, religion writer Laura Haferd and Terence Oliver.

 

In 2006 24 left with 335 years of service, including Bonnie Bolden, wife of former editor Bruce Winges; clerk Barbara Albrecht, artist Dennis Balogh, reporters Gary Estwick and Mary Ethridge, columnist Diane Papparone Evans, copy editor Tim Good, reporter Andale Gross, copy editor Erin Hill, reporter Gloria Irwin, copy editors Jim Kavanagh, who went to CNN, and Jody Kraner, reporter Delano Massey, copy editor Kim Profant, reporter Tom Reed, photographers Robin Sallie and Lindsay Sample, food writer Jane Snow, reporter Kathy Spitz, reporter; Chiffon Staebler, copy editor  Debbie Stock Kiefer, editorial writer Sarah Vradenburg, reporter Judie Wallace and photographer Jocelyn Williams.

 

Newsroom managers laid off or took voluntary resignations besides Bonnie were Dave Wilson, David Hertz, Susan Kirkman, Michael Needs and Debra Adams Simmons.

 

In 2008 there were 18 departures with 273 years of service, including city hall reporter Carl Chancellor, deputy Metro editor Keith McKnight, Metro editor Ann Sheldon Mezger, columnist David Giffels, cartoonist Chip Bok and classic music critic Elaine Guregian.

 

Since that horrible day in 2001, the BJ has lost more than 2,000 years of newspaper experience, most of it while at 44 E. Exchange Street. About 100 left, not through retirement, as I did in 1996, or getting a job elsewhere.

We are getting nearer and nearer to this notice:

“Will the last person who leaves the BJ please turn off the lights.”

My heart can’t stand much more of this from what once was the shining light of Ohio newspapers. And I sympathize greatly with those still remaining with ever-heavier loads because so many staffers are gone.