I have been a newspaper reporter since 1976, when, as an 8th grader, I got my first byline for the Carmenita Jr. High School Paw Print. I’ve written for the Cerritos High Informer, the Cerritos College Talon Marks, the Cerritos Community Advocate, the Southeast News and Daily Signal, the Anaheim Bulletin, Gold Coast Magazine, the Jersey Journal, the Pasadena Star News, the Daily Breeze and the Orange County Register. Sometime in the next two weeks, I’ll get my last byline for the Register. I’ve been told newspaper economics will put hundreds of reporters at the Register in jeopardy, so I decided to take a buyout and try to re-invent myself in some other line of work. I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me. Do I want to leave? No. Do I feel I must to minimize the risk? Yes. Until Tuesday of last week, I hadn’t ever dreamed this would happen. I thought I would retire from the Register. But, like I said, newspaper economics. I have so many people to thank for a wonderful career. Tim Burt hired me for my first job out of college. Tom Bray was my first mentor. Catherine Gaugh advised me to try something other than sports and broadened my career. Steve Newhouse hired me at Gold Coast Magazine in New Jersey when our grand adventure depended on me getting a job. Cathy Lawhon gave me a second shot at the Register. Mark Katches asked me to work on “Toxic Treats” and we nearly pulled off a Pulitzer. Rebecca Allen was an inspiration. Andre Mouchard encouraged me. Ken Brusic made me feel like any crazy idea was a good one. I met my wife through the Register, and some of my closest friends, Mike Pilgrim and Andy Horan. Hell, I have 125 pen pals around the world – and I don’t know how I’m going to type goodbye to all of them. I’ll tell you what I’ll miss most: being in the office. I just loved connecting with other reporters. Peter Larsen walks in every day, and I call him “Pedro” and he calls me “Alejandro,” which was the name I chose for myself in 9th grade Spanish class. I may have to call him every morning just to be reassured everything will be ok. I will miss talking about stories with the brilliant Tom Berg. I loved when Barry Koltnow would sit down and talk movies. I will miss sitting between Samantha Dunn and Amy Wilson, who always make me smile. What the hell happened? How could it have possibly ended this way? I guess those questions will haunt me until I get re-established elsewhere. I have loved the hectic poetry of journalism, the crafting of revelations, the free food left out of the break tables. I’ve got some big plans, so, beginning June 20, we’ll see how far I can go.
Posted on: Sun, 08 Jun 2014 23:37:08 +0000
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