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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