With all due respect to John Robinson, he is dead wrong that it’s time for his newsroom “to have new leadership with new ideas.”
Maybe it’s time for John to enjoy something else in life. But he brought outstanding leadership and an endless flow of new ideas to the Greensboro News & Record in 13 years as editor. Whoever the new leader is will have a tough act to follow.
John announced his resignation Tuesday, with his last day scheduled for Dec. 2.
John was one of the first newsroom leaders to blog and to make blogging an important part of his newsroom. He is probably the best top newsroom editor at engaging on Twitter. And he’s a heck of a nice guy (Mimi and I met him and had lunch on a trip to North Carolina last year).
The outpouring of appreciation for John on Facebook tonight is a treat to read. This is an editor who had an impact in his community, his newsroom and the profession. I know him best from social media and his blog (we just met that one time last year), but I feel that I know him well. And I don’t know of an editor who better mixes strong values, good humor and curiosity.
He doesn’t say in the News & Record story on his resignation what will be next, just that “it’s time for me to contribute to this community in new ways.”
All the best to one of the best.
Update: As you’d expect, I’m not the only person praising John and wishing him well:
One of the best editors I know, @JohnRobinson, is retiring from the News & Record in Greensboro, NC… Exemplary man, inspiring journalist.—
Jay Rosen (@jayrosen_nyu) November 01, 2011
Thank you, @johnrobinson, for all the helpful pushes in good directions. So what's next for you? news-record.com/content/2011/1…—
Ryan Sholin (@ryansholin) November 02, 2011
2nded. One of my Twitter role models. RT @stevebuttry: All best tO @johnrobinson – resigns as editor of News & Record wp.me/poqp6-1Fc—
Angie Muhs (@amuhs) November 02, 2011
Wow, @johnrobinson leaving the Greensboro editor's job? Will the last person left with newspapers please turn out the lights.—
Howard Owens (@howardowens) November 02, 2011
@johnrobinson You have my respect and congratulations!—
Kit Rodenbough (@designarchives) November 02, 2011
Best wishes to @johnrobinson, who's leaving his job as editor of the Greensboro News & Record: bit.ly/tsga3m—
Dan Kennedy (@dankennedy_nu) November 02, 2011
Well, damn, Steve. I waited to read this until my emotions were more in check, and I’m glad I did. You are way too kind (especially when you know that I side with Mimi on all things in contention).
I don’t know what my plans are now. I hope they are in journalism because that’s pretty much all I know. We’ll see. And I’ll still be on Twitter and Facebook. Still debating starting a personal blog since I’ll be losing the newspaper one.
Thanks, man. You’ve taught me so much of what I know.
Thanks for your kind words, John. Mimi got a good laugh (but she knows you’re right about all things in contention). Here’s one vote for starting a personal blog.
Mimi says make it two votes.
[...] Journalist profiles. In addition to Phil Record, I wrote tributes to two retiring journalists: Drew Davis and John Robinson. [...]