MARY KAY QUINN LATEST VICTIM OF BJ EXODUS TSUNAMI

 

Add Mary Kay Quinn to never-ending BJ exodus

 

Mary Kay Quinn, who was BJ editorial page editor, Metro reporter and editor and both BJ and Hudson Hub-Times regional opinion and engagement editor, has been eliminated from her BJ job. Mary Kay began at Ol' Blue Walls in 1996, 

the year I retired from 44 E. Exchange Street after 26 fantastic years there.

Earlier this year she was awarded second place for editorial page writing in the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors honors.

She posted on her Facebook page:

“Found out my ‘position is being eliminated’ this morning. Not surprised, the way things have been going. Fortunately, they will be giving me a nice severance and my health care runs until the end of this year. Last day is Dec. 9. Good luck to those who remain!”

Indeed, it’s like hearing a dirge from the dance band on the Titanic at the BJ these days.

Marla Ridenour, Jim Mackinnon, Karren Schiely and Scot Fagerstrom took buyouts in November.

In the 2001 exodus were sports 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 the 2006 exodus were editor Bonnie Bolden; 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 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, copy editor Chiffon Staebler, copy editor  Debbie Stock Kiefer, editorial writer Sarah Vradenburg, reporter Judie Wallace and photographer Jocelyn Williams.

In the 2008 exodus were 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.

We are getting nearer and nearer to this notice:

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

Desrosiers to Repository as executive editor

Beacon Journal Metro Editor Rich Desrosiers will become executive editor of the Canton Repository.

Laura Kessel has been serving as interim editor since the February departure of Therese Hayt, who became executive director of the American Society of News Editors in Columbia, Missouri.

Desrosiers, a Stark County resident for 35 years, came to the BJ in 1994 as assistant national editor, became deputy news editor in 1995, news editor in 1996, executive news editor in 1998, Stark Bureau chief in 2000, sports editor in 2006 and, finally, metro editor.

At my request, Rich provided more information:

“John:

“I have been at the Beacon Journal almost 21 years to the day: July 25, 1994 to

July 31 (Friday will be my last day), 2015.

“Before coming to the Beacon Journal (as the assistant national editor), I had been at the Canton Repository as a sportswriter (about 4 years) then as a page designer (nearly 5 years). I designed both A1 and the B1 (metro) pages, plus some inside pages, five days a week -- an assignment that prepared me to help the ABJ transition to full pagination in the 1990s.

“I attended the University of Akron, graduating in 1985 with a BA in Mass Communications.

“The title of my new assignment is ‘executive editor of GateHouse Ohio Media.’ In a nutshell, I will oversee the newsroom operations of the four print/online entities in that group: The Repository, The Massillon Independent, The Dover-New Philadelphia Times-Reporter and The Suburbanite.

 “If you need anything else, please let me know.

 “Thanks for your interest.

 “Rich D”

 This continues the BJ newsroom exodus of managers and underlings. Larry Pantages, at Ol’ Blue Walls since 1972, left in February to become managing editor of the Medina Gazette.

A newsroom that once held 250 employees has shrunk alarmingly to fewer than 60. In 1984 128 of the 754 BJ employees, from the newsroom to the pressroom, had at least 25 years of experience.

Rich's wife, Anne, is a substitute teacher and high school volleyball coach. Their three children, Andrew, Maggie and John, attend the North Canton schools. Rich is a coach with the Canton Akron Penguins youth hockey association.

Jim Porter, the Repository’s publisher, had said the search would be for “a candidate who fits our community and our culture.” That fits Rich like a glove.

Gatehouse owns the Repository and the Massillon Independent.