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To The Staff - Part FourBy Jeffrey FrankThe previous six months at the Sentinel were a time of change. Ray retired and was replaced by Arnold Flange as editor in chief. Young Jerry Mortallos soared into the managerial ranks -- challenging Todd, who was still trying to hit on the right blogging strategy -- and started going by Gerald. As for the rest of the staff, well, the paper opened a career center to help reporters evaluate their skills and find other professions.June 22nd We don't have the proper words to express how sorry we are about Ray Featherington, who led us so well for so long. Looking back, it's clear that so many things he did were in fact a cry for help, a plea for someone to intervene. Yet we were all so busy meeting our deadlines -- protecting the interests of our readers -- that no one took notice of Ray's very personal deadline and no one doubted his sincerity about returning to Maine to pursue his outdoor and indoor dreams, that next chapter of his life that he talked about to close friends. We can at least be grateful that he is still alive and basically responding to stimuli and receiving visitors at the county hospital. He's not taking calls, but we've spoken to his wife, and she tells us she's pretty sure Ray will be grateful for personal notes, as long as "they're not too long or too personal." Joy Featherington certainly hasn't lost her sense of humor! We know that Ray -- at least the Ray we knew and shared so much with -- would not want us to feel pity, but rather to think about him, as Gloria put it so well, as a significant player in the good times. We send our best wishes to Joy as Ray begins on his long and possible recovery. A & G August 1st We know that we can count on your support as we revamp the Sentinel and try yet again to move it into the future. Our first hope is that everyone will cooperate with the changes that must be made if we are to survive, starting with our move to a building in another part of our city. We realize that the new neighborhood is not considered desirable, or even safe, and that some of you are very, very worried. But the mayor has assured us that we can count on regular police patrols, and we're sure that with ordinary vigilance and employing the "buddy system" when we need to fetch our cars in the nearby parking lot, we will all get used to these changes and eventually treat them as minor inconveniences. The night shift, we're told, should be "extra careful." We also know that many of you anticipate yet another painful reduction in our workforce. All we can do is pledge that whatever streamlining comes next -- and we're not saying that it's definitely going to happen although it probably is unavoidable -- will be done with our full awareness of the human consequences. We're also aware of your concern that by reducing staff further and turning for help to the city and its police force, and by the decision to eliminate our Tuesday paper -- a pioneering step for our industry -- we are somehow compromising the Sentinel. Those of you know us and have worked with us surely know better, and realize that we do not intend to surrender one iota of our editorial integrity. Arnold & Gerald & Todd P.S. Be assured that the toilets in our new quarters will be as clearly marked as they have been lately in our present offices, with those extremely large letters that really don't allow for human error. August 19th Sorry, Todd, but payroll has decided that it can't carry us both -- not with so much overlap in our jobs and the elimination of the Tuesday paper. Arnold has designated me as the one to let you know that you're being let go, effective immediately, although of course you'll get a fair and appropriate severance. I hope this doesn't affect our personal friendship, which has meant a lot to me in the time we've worked closely together, a time in which I've learned so many valuable tips from you. Thanks for your efforts over the years, especially with all your attempts to get the blogging site and its content right, and your willingness to stand up to those who called it "moronic." Gerald August 19th Fuck you and fuck our personal friendship, too. August 20th As many of you may have overheard (and we apologize for the language), Todd, after a long and distinguished (albeit bumpy) career at the Sentinel, is leaving, and has decided to make yesterday his last day. There's not much that we can say about Todd that you don't already know, but we'll miss his wisdom, his good humor, and his salty tongue. Join us in wishing him well. A & G P.S. We will soon determine who should take over Todd's responsibilities. Anyone interested in an aspect of the Chief Deputy Managing Editor position should talk to one of us. In the meantime, we're going to let a news aide monitor the rest rooms -- just to be sure there are no more slip-ups. |
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