This is my last week at the newspaper. I’ve been hired by the Sonoma County Library, where I plan to advocate for free public libraries as ardently as I have for a free press.
I don’t know if my journalism career is over, but I’m 63, so I guess it’s sensible to think in terms of “What’s left?” instead of my lifetime habit of “What’s next?”
I could fill this page with memories and thank-yous, but I’ll just hit a few, so we have room for your (always) smart and passionate letters.
In the span of 20 years’ involvement with this newspaper, thanks go first to the late Kathy Roth. In 1998, I wrote a guest commentary for the paper, complaining about the then-new practice of fencing off the Plaza for events. I thought (and still do) that the Plaza should be free and accessible to all, every day.
Kathy liked the commentary and asked me to write more. My first “Main Street” column appeared in June, 1998. I didn’t miss a week for seven years. During that time, I became first a reporter, then the editor of the paper.
In 2005, I left the paper (I thought), to go back into construction, rewarding and demanding work that occupied much of my young life. Nope. At 50, I was too brittle. I jacked my knee, lost my job and started writing freelance, which turned into a successful and satisfying gig working with local nonprofits and being involved in community projects.
I never stopped being part of the Tribune, writing columns and contributing freelance columns, stories or photos. I also freelanced with the Petaluma newspaper, filling in for various editors when they needed time off to have babies or take vacations.
When Kerrie Lindecker told me in January, 2015 that she was leaving her job here as managing editor, I jumped.
My current role is to be responsible for the news effort for all four of our weekly newspapers. I’ve never taken my hand off the tiller at the Tribune, but I’ve also doubled up at times as the editor of the Windsor Times or the Cloverdale Reveille, and helped out at our west county sister, Sonoma West Times & News.
As life, the cost of living and other opportunities lured away our staff, I became the senior newsroom guy as well, outlasted only by our unstoppable sports editor.
Most of the news staff we have now I’ve hired, trained, cajoled, threatened, bullied, and most of all, admired. I say this every time we have staff changes, but every time it’s true: we have the finest, fiercest and funniest group of newsies right now, that we’ve ever had. Just sitting in a news meeting makes me feel smarter.
Heather, Zoë, E.I., Katherine, Laura, Greg — I’ll miss you all, so much. Thanks for believing in what we do and inspiring me every week. Robby and Jim, Teresa and Anika, Brad and Cherie, the indispensable Jan, the irascible Frank — thank for your enduring belief in the value of journalism.
To our former reporters and editors (especially you, Amie and Stuart), thanks for giving it your all while you were here. To our regular columnists and contributors, bless you all for being part of this audacious endeavor, to educate, inspire and inform our communities.
Gratitude goes to our publishers, Rollie Atkinson and Sarah Bradbury. I know you’ll miss my workaholic tendencies and my adamant insistence that we don’t capitalize common nouns, but I know I can be a handful, especially when I feel that an injustice has been done. Rollie — the list of what we disagree on is not short, but we were always in step on our journalistic values. Thank you for letting me be me.
The biggest thank you of all goes to my life partner. In this column, I always call her my sweetie, but her name is Lynn Marie Woznicki, and the day in 1988 when she married me marked a turning point in my life. Lynn, you always stand by me, love me with your fierce heart and make me want to be my best self. I love you and I look forward to growing old together in Healdsburg.
To the public agencies and officials we cover, thanks to the vast majority of you for doing your duty; returning calls and emails, being available and patient.
To the community: Thank you for your patience when I tried new things, your impatience when I missed the point, your urgent emails, your whispered tips at the grocery store and your insistence that you be part of your local newspaper.
Thanks for understanding when I didn’t write a story that conformed to your beliefs about how things ought to be. My job was to help you make good decisions, not make them for you.
There’s no better town to be a newspaper editor.
Give your new editor, whomever s/he will be, a chance to learn the territory and soak in the Healdsburg vibe. Just as you did for me, let them know when they get it wrong and don’t forget to speak up when they get it right.
Don’t assume that a newspaper makes itself. The Healdsburg Tribune is co-curated by you. Your contributions, suggestions and concerns drive it every week, and that must continue for the paper to be a healthy and accurate reflection of the community.
Appreciate the hard work that goes into the job, but be demanding as well. Being a small town newspaper editor takes over your life; that’s how it works. Expect a lot and speak up if you don’t get it. Cookies help, too.
Be kind as well, and don’t fall into the trap of thinking that we’re like the national media. My saddest moments in the past few months reflected that trend. One local granted me an interview about the most mundane topic, and ended it with, “Well, I guess now you’ll skew it anyway you want.”
Nope. We don’t skew. That’s the point. The values of fairness and honesty keep journalists working, and it cuts deeply when they’re misunderstood or dismissed. Believe in your local journalists. After all, they believe so deeply in you.
Ray Holley misses you already.
–30–
Ray Holley wonders what’s next.
