Saying goodbye, saying thank you
Faithful readers and friends, I’m writing one last time, to announce that I will be leaving my job as Senior Staff Reporter at The Spectator effective today, following a fulfilling five year run.
I want to lead by saying THANK YOU!
This job has been a safe haven for me, providing a younger man the ability to come home and find a meaningful place in this beautiful corner of the world.
My role as a reporter has allowed me to witness ordinary people doing extra-ordinary things. I’ve gotten to sit down with American heroes, politicians who make critical decisions impacting all of our lives, CEOs of major corporations, actors, and best of all, the people who make this small valley what it is, a great place to grow up, work and raise a family.
Did we always get it right in my time at the newspaper?
Absolutely not, but in our office we always had two guiding principles for when we got something wrong —
1. The first thing you hear from us will be an apology, and not an excuse.
2. Then we come back tomorrow and give our best possible effort again.
I have no doubt that we’ve done that.
Despite the many challenges the newspaper industry faces, I’m proud to have been part of a team whose work informed, entertained and kept our community safe from harm.
Together, we’ve shined a light into the darkened corners of public corruption, brought attention to programs that keep our community afloat, shown the rest of the world who we are and what we stand for, and along the way, hopefully we made you feel something.
I can count the number of times tears have been brought to my eyes in my adult life on roughly two hands: upon the death of my grandparents, a beloved pet, etc.
But most occasions have come while bringing you the news. Tears of joy for people overcoming insurmountable obstacles in their lives; tears of mourning for the victims of horrendous crimes and the families who seek justice for them; and tears for getting to be the person you trusted to tell those stories.
Above all, I’ve appreciated the opportunity to give good people due credit, telling stories that might otherwise be lost to history.
But, all good things must come to an end — hopefully for even greater things. In my new role at the Institute for Human Services in Bath, I’ll get to share the stories of the non-profit organizations that help make our region stronger, by supporting local health, aiding growing families, and driving the shared goals we all have as members of that community across the finish line.
In my absence, I encourage people to continue subscribing and supporting their local newspaper. What we do is consequential, because if we don’t document our own history, no one else will. My colleagues and those who will carry on my work are fantastic people, who aren’t finished building this paper’s 168 year legacy.
The opportunity to be the most trusted and in touch person with Hornell and the surrounding communities has meant everything to me.
Thanks for reading, Jason Jordan Former Senior Staff Reporter, The Spectator
Jason Jordan
