Farewell to print, hello to the Web

Let’s cut right to the chase. I’m no longer the editor of this fine newspaper.

I’ve agreed to take on a new venture and have handed over the reins to my colleague and friend S.J. Cahn, a bright young editor with loads of talent and new ideas.

Actually, I’m no longer an editor at all, or even really a journalist, something that’s been my identity now for the better part of two decades.

I know, I know, there’s plenty of cheering going on in some quarters, and there are those who question if I ever really was a journalist. But before you get too excited about my exit, I must say I’m not going far. In fact, I’m still in the same office.

Only now, instead of running the newsroom of what I believe to be the best community newspaper in the nation, as general manager of Times Community News online, I’ll be running the website of the best community newspaper in the nation, as well as those of our sister papers throughout Southern California.

Anyone who has paid the slightest attention to media trends knows how important website development is, and we are, admittedly, a bit late to the party.

It was only this past February that we launched an independently run website. And even that site is lacking some of the essentials for it to be successful as a source of both community news and community advertising.

That’s now my job. To create and build those essential parts. To build this from a newspaper to a news organization that delivers information in print and online.

Already, there has been progress in that area. We now have online versions of our special reports, including the 103 most influential local people and our Newport Beach centennial magazine, and our weekly automotive advertising section, the Auto Pilot.

Stay tuned for new features in the coming weeks: Readers will soon have the ability to search archived stories back to 1999 (I also hope to have it go back to 1993 sometime soon), to submit photos to an online photo gallery, to purchase staff photos and to place and search for classified advertising for cars, real estate, rentals, employment and general merchandise.

We’ll be coming up with new interactive ways to bring readers their daily newspaper as the age of electronic media continues to blossom.

So this isn’t really goodbye. I still hope to see and hear from you all in my new role and will be eager to hear your suggestions and ideas on how our online presentation can be better.

Still, I take this job knowing that I have been a very fortunate man to have been a part of this great newspaper and news organization.

As some of you are aware, I began working at the Daily Pilot while just a college intern and knew right from the start that it was a special place to work.

I’ve had great mentors along the way: William Lobdell, former editor; Steve Marble, former managing editor; the late great reporter, Robert “Bob” Barker; and of course, my boss, Tom Johnson, the Pilot’s publisher. Good teachers and friends all.

My favorite memories, though, will be of the readers and community and business leaders I have met along the way.

They’ve told me in no uncertain terms how valuable this paper is to them. And while we don’t always agree on every story and every issue, at the end of the day the important thing is that this paper continues to publish the news that is vital to Newport-Mesa’s residents.

Like I said, I’ll still be a part of that, just via a computer screen instead of ink and paper.

Best of luck to all of you, and be easy on the new editor. Take it from me, he’s got a big job to do.20051108h0cjf6ke(LA)