Behind the Times

Time to hit the trail…

Posted on June 12, 2007 by kraus2686
Filed Under Newsroom news, Noah's posts |

I remember sitting in the newsroom in Concord when the news came through a little more than two years ago that Community Newspaper Company had purchased the Times & Courier. “Hey, that’s my paper!” I shouted. Of course, it wasn’t “my paper,” but such is the feeling most people have about their hometown paper.

At the time I was editing The Beacon, one of our tried and true community papers that covers Acton and Boxborough, as well as managing a small group of other papers. Most of our company’s operations were east of Route 495. Being a resident of Clinton and a former reporter for The Item, it became obvious I would be involved in our new enterprise. Yeah, the 1/2-mile commute was kind of a nice perk, too.

Two and a half years later, it’s time for me to move over and let someone else take the reins here. Starting Friday, I’ll be heading off to our Lexington office to manage a group of weekly papers there and take the helm of the Arlington Advocate. I’ll still be living in Clinton and given my willingness to always jump on a breaking news story and that I still work for the company, you’ll likely see my byline or a column from me from time to time — although I can’t say I’ll miss sitting in the Clinton office until midnight on Tuesday finishing up a 15-hour day — the deadlines in Lexington are a little more generous.

Michael Ballway will be taking over the Times & Courier. Mike has worked for the past year on our Woburn paper. He’s a good guy and a more than capable editor. He’ll also be working full time on the Times & Courier. Whereas my responsibilities have often taken my attentions to other papers, Mike will be putting all his efforts into covering Clinton and Lancaster, and as a soon-to-be former editor — and now a reader — that’s a good thing.

So, shoot me a wave at Old Home Day or in the supermarket or I’ll see you over at clintonmass.com or clintonmass.us. By the way, Mike will either be taking over this blog or be creating one of his own. I’ll be taking my silly blogishness to the good folks of Arlington.