Text of Ken Paulson memo on his resignation

From a note USA Today top editor Ken Paulson sent to staff about his departure.

I know that Craig sent a gracious note announcing my retirement from USA Today, but I wanted to follow up with one of my own. The day I walked into the newsroom almost five years ago, I said that I was honored to be associated with this news organization and this remarkable group of people. That hasn’t changed.

I’m very proud of the extraordinary work you’ve done, including an unprecedented commitment to daily enterprise and watchdog work in print and online. This is a staff with a great tradition of innovation and respect for our readers, and you’ve stepped up to every challenge.

I have great faith in the vitality and future of USA Today. In a difficult time for the entire industry, you’ve grown circulation and continued to build traffic. You’ve broken new ground in reader interaction while continuing to keep an eye on people in power. Every department --News, Life, Sports, Money, Opinion, Travel, Tech and Design -- has made gains in readership and reach.

I’m leaving for a chance to work daily on First Amendment issues and to extend the reach and impact of the Newseum. If you’ve been to the Newseum, you know why this was such a compelling opportunity. In an era in which America’s free press is so often battered by partisans, pundits and politicians, it’s time for us to take a stand on behalf of a truly public-spirited profession and its role in preserving and protecting our democracy. The Newseum and First Amendment Center can make a real difference in defending our most fundamental freedoms, and I want to be a part of that.

I’ll be here for another six weeks, but I wanted to thank you for your outstanding work throughout my years here. This is a very special newsroom with a real passion for serving the public. I could not be more proud of what you’ve accomplished.

[Image: today's front page, Newseum]