Jerry Allegood’s retirement after 35 years at The News & Observer is bad news.

Bad news for Eastern North Carolina, which used to be the N&O’s focus.  Now the paper is all about Wake County.

Bad news because Allegood is a pro and a great guy.

And bad news for people like me who can hardly eat breakfast without an N&O beside their orange juice.  I calculate the paper has been part of my daily routine for something like 15,000 mornings.

The word on the street (literally on the street: an N&O employee told me this on Fayetteville Street) is that the paper’s newsroom laid off 20-25 people this week.

I haven’t seen that story yet.

I love the Internet, websites, blogs and all that.  But I hate what they’re doing to good newspapers and the people who work there.

My first job was copyboy at the N&O.  I was 16.  My dad got me the job.  He was foreman of the composing room.  My life has revolved around newspapers ever since.

Thinking back, I’m reminded of what Ernest Hemingway once said about journalism:  It’s a great career for young people, so long as they get out in time.

Some people may be getting out before their time.

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