The Next Chapter

Chris Reynolds

I’ve spent the past 4½ years sitting at a big desk looking out onto Swarthmore, as I arrange words to describe what’s going on beyond the window. I’ll miss the work, and I’ll miss the view — the village of Swarthmore, whose sidewalks beckon you to stroll and explore; whose avenues invite you to ride a bike; whose yards and parks burst with vitality and imagination.

I will miss the regular contact with some bright and accomplished people who enliven our news coverage and offer us resources for opinions and creative ideas for features. I’ll miss the sense of connectedness that I have with readers, and that we create (when we’re doing our jobs right) among the varied residents in the various towns that make up our district and our subscriber base.

I’ll miss working with Diane Madison, whose capabilities seem to expand to address whatever challenge presents itself, and who holds in her mind 30 years of history of this 125-year-old newspaper and the people we’ve covered. I’ll miss the energy of our publishing team, who have supported and revived the Swarthmorean not only with their investment, but also with their vision of what a weekly newspaper should and can be.

And I’ll miss being part of the future of this news organization as it continues evolving. The state of the Swarthmorean is strong, with creative ownership and leadership, a talented incoming editor in Rachel Pastan, a healthy institutional memory, and most of all, a committed, intelligent readership that cares deeply about their towns and their stories.

On the other hand, I’ll enjoy opening the paper on Friday without already knowing every word that’s in it. I’m looking forward to the next chapter, and to joining you on the other side of the desk.