Detroit Free Press Executive Editor Caesar Andrews, one of Gannett's most prominent minority news executives, is taking a voluntary buyout and will leave the Freep, effective Nov. 10, the paper reports today: "Andrews, 49, joined the Free Press in September 2005 as part of the new management team after Gannett bought the newspaper from Knight Ridder. He said he is taking a voluntary buyout and is unsure of his next career move, but he expressed interest in journalism education and civic foundations."Andrews joined Gannett in 1979, as a staff writer at what's now Florida Today at Cocoa, Fla. In a mid-afternoon memo, top editor Paul Anger said Andrews would continue with all the duties and responsibilities of executive editor until that date.
The memo continues: "Caesar told me at the beginning of his outstanding tenure here that for years he had considered making a career change, and there could come a time when he would decide to do something else besides editing. I had hoped that time would never come, and we've delayed making this announcement in the hope that he might change his mind or that another challenge could be found in the company.
"Caesar has his own thoughts that he will share with you. Here's one more from me:"We could have had no better editor, partner, colleague and friend than Caesar these last three years, through much change, many challenges, and much incredible journalism. We all know that, and I feel personally and deeply indebted to him."
In a note of his own, Andrews says:
"By the time I depart in early November, I intend to have expressed my personal gratitude to the many people who made my three years in Detroit as fulfilling as just about any stage in my career.
"More than once I have marveled at my good fortune to work at a place as legendary as the Free Press. The talent on this staff is outstanding. So is the journalism, some of it among the best I've ever witnessed."
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[Image: today's front page, Newseum]
And another good one.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080822/SPORTS/808220304
Man, I with my EE was considered legendary, a partner, a friend ... or even a journalist. Ours is just a roadblock to moving on to our ME to actually getting something done. I wish ours would consider a career change to "anywhere but here" :)
ReplyDelete~ Still not laid off in G'ville
To G'ville, I hope your copy (or your copy editing) doesn't read like this post. I had to reread it several times to get the general idea, and it's still not entirely clear.
ReplyDeleteFor No. 4: What makes you think G'ville is in the newsroom? This blog hears from drivers, ad people and finance people, among others.
ReplyDelete#4:51: Actually I am from the newsroom, had the day off and had just woken up. Fortunately I'm not in copy editing :) I figured since we're all newspaper people here, I could throw some EEs and MEs around, but I guess it wasn't clear. The gist of what I was saying is that our EE is pretty much a roadblock to any actual work in our newsroom. The ME runs that place and believe me, there would be zero impact if the EE just didn't show up one day.
ReplyDeleteOh and this IS the Intertubes ... bad grammar is a hallmark, right? :)
I met Caesar Andrews at corporate once, when he was still running GNS. Seemed like a real nice guy and a good journalist. Hope his next career path is a good one.
ReplyDelete