There was a time when we at The Star-Ledger would do anything in our power to beat The Daily Record on a story. And reporters at the DR would do the same to best us.
It was a spirited rivalry, and the winners were Morris County’s readers.
Alas, the Ledger bureau in Morristown closed its doors a few weeks ago. And on Friday, The Daily Record said so long to a host of journalists whose bylines are well known across the county.
Some were let go. Others left voluntarily. Round after round of layoffs, furloughs and reapplications for jobs that could evaporate by the next quarterly report wreak havoc on the psyche. Nearly half of the editorial staff at the Daily Record, Courier News and Home News Tribune has been eliminated by Gannett Co., which owns the three papers.
The economic woes of newspapers are well documented elsewhere.
On a personal level, it’s sad that the only growth opportunity in the industry seems to be catering farewell parties. I have attended so many over the last two years that I feel like a funeral director.
Friday’s sendoff filled a room at the Famished Frog, and I stopped by to pay my respects. There were hugs and toasts and words of encouragement. There was bitterness, too, and relief and wistfulness. Working for a newspaper is a special gig, a dream job. Many people who have left newspapers–myself included–look back with nostalgia.
The future is digital, of course, and it’s an exciting challenge trying to make it work. I am sure many people from that room at the Frog will go on to make important contributions, as many ex-pats from the Ledger are doing.
Let’s also hope that newspapers endure. They are the only medium geared for the kind of systematic, long-term, labor-intensive investigations vital for a healthy democracy.
As for my friendly rivals at the DR, the old sports cliches are true. You get the best measure of people when you compete against them. Veterans like Fred Snowflack, Colleen O’Dea, John Bell, Dawn Benko and Mike Daigle, among others, and newer recruits like Mike Cummings and Jake Remaly and Minhaj Hassan–they came to play.
Good luck to you all as you write your next chapters.
Will do Kevin. I’m hoping to do more exhibits of my nature and wildlife photography. I’d love to do Art in the Atrium.
very nice sentiment, good article. I don’t know you and didn’t stay long at the Frog, but it’s always nice to read good words about the DR, and newspapers in general. I didn’t work at the DR long, just 3 years … and more than likely my next career will be something else. But there’s nothing like working for a paper … it’s where I’ve spent most of my life.
Sad that a load of my friends were let go from the Daily Record. I shot the photos at the party and did not know if I should be happy that they are let go and will now prosper somewhere in a better place or if they will end up on the 87 unemployment extensions.
Dawn, it is an honor to be your friend and you are an inspiration for all people to show, you can do whatever you want in life. You are the BEST.
Good luck, Dawn. Please keep us posted on your future projects!
I just stumbled on this article today. Thanks for the kind words, Kevin.
I’m definitely going to miss the people I’ve gotten to know around Morris County during my 21 years at the paper as well as my colleagues, who have become like a second family.
Nicely said.