STEVEN A. McCALEB
103 ALVERADO DRIVE
LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI 39560
PHONE & FAX: (228)-868-8428
E-MAIL: mccaleb4thdist@aol.com
WEB SITE: www.mississippiwebsite.com
STEVEN A. McCALEB
103 ALVERADO DRIVE
LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI 39560
PHONE & FAX: (228)-868-8428
E-MAIL: mccaleb4thdist@aol.com
WEB SITE: www.mississippiwebsite.com
Since Ricky Mathews was groomed
and hand picked for this
position by Roland Weeks, it tells me that there will not be a
change in the way our local newspaper will conduct business.
By KAT BERGERON
THE SUN HERALD
Monday, April 30, 2007
The news about Mathews, announced Tuesday afternoon to The Sun Herald's 266 employees, was greeted with loud applause and broad smiles.
Since Mathews never left, then nothing has changed, he will just make more money.
"I'm very pleased that Ricky is going to follow me," said Weeks, 64, who has mentored Mathews since the 1980s. "We have something very special at this newspaper ... and he will continue it."
I have requested to have my web site published several times, but I was told no.
The Sun Herald is one of 32 newspapers owned by Knight-Ridder, and Chip Visci, who is KR's vice president of operations and assistant to the chairman and CEO, traveled from San Jose, Calif., for the announcement.
Just another day in a vice president's PR life.
I would have thought a new, fresh, out of town person would have been chosen.
I believe the Sun Herald Newspaper needs new blood, not another 30 years of the same publishing.
We here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast need another newspaper and television station.
Competition is good and when there is only one local newspaper and television station news seems to be lacking.
"Ricky Mathews has proven over the years that he is a very capable leader who combines good business sense with strong journalism values," Visci said. "He also cares deeply about the place he has called home for most of his life."
He is happy he does not have to move, that makes since.
The KR executive also had high praise for Weeks, and said under his leadership The Sun Herald has grown and prospered. Weeks came to the newspaper from Columbia, S.C., at age 31, just one year before Hurricane Camille ripped across the Coast. His leadership is credited with helping the Coast rebuild bigger, better and psychologically stronger than before.
Over the years Roland Weeks became tided to the Gulf Coast Community, and over the years he became non-objective about the news.
Its like when WLOX-13/ABC, Leon Long made a tape and aired it on his television station concerning the statewide vote on Proposition 9.
This vote was on Term Limits of our elected officials.
After a long speech, Leon Long asked the people of Mississippi to vote "NO" on Proposition 9.
This is taking sides, and Proposition 9 was defeated.
Newspaper publishers and television managers are supposed to stay neutral not tell the voters of Mississippi how to vote.
Mathews admitted he has big shoes to fill.
I see a size 6 or 6 1/2 at the best.
Let's face it, Mathews has been groomed for past several years, it's not like he is a new person know on knows.
"I'm honored and humbled to be named to carry on his legacy," Mathews said. "It's a great company, a great newspaper and the opportunity to have an orderly local transition will allow us to maintain our special Sun Herald culture."
I am sorry that not all of us feel the same way as he does.
But then, our Constitution gave "We the People" that right.
Biloxi banker Chevis Swetman said he was pleased to hear of Mathews' promotion. The president of Peoples Bank has worked with Mathews through the Mississippi Coast Chamber of Commerce, of which Mathews is chairman-elect.
I do not call this a good thing, being so close to the community leaders, it could tend one to take sides on news which needs reporting.
I have seen it: www.mississippiwebsite.com/wranps_inc.htm
"I think Ricky is a real good community builder who has the knack for understanding people and understanding what the problems are and how to solve them," Swetman said. "When Roland came here he had that vision, and Ricky has it, too. He's young, he's energetic and he really wants to make the community better."
The proof is in the pudding!
Mathews, whose boyish looks belie his 43 years, was selected for the publisher's position after a series of interviews with corporate executives and testing at the company's headquarters in San Jose. Before heading to California, his three children, Victoria, Justin and Jordan, secretly tucked cards they'd made in his suitcase.
I would have had too been there for the interviews in order to understand why Mathews was chosen for the publisher position.
Money could have been an issue, not having to pay to move someone into the position could be a reason.
Or this could have been arranged by Roland Weeks and Knight-Ridder, we will never know.
"They drew pictures and wrote special wishes and told him that even if he didn't get the job, they were proud of him anyway," said Mathews' wife, the former Ann Barhonovich of Biloxi.
I really feel Mathews being chosen for this position was a, "shoe-in."
But the favorite story centers around Justin, a first-grader at St. James Catholic Elementary School in Gulfport. It seems that Justin let the family secret out of the bag when he asked his class to include his dad's job interview in their morning prayers.
Cute, but why was it supposed to be a secret?
STEVEN A. McCALEB
COMMENTARY