E-mail to The Gazette staff about new post at IowaWatch.org

Today (Tues., March 20) I told the newsroom at The Gazette and KCRG-TV9 that I am leaving the company as Gazette editor to become executive director of the non-profit Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism, which runs the IowaWatch.org web site that displays original investigative and public affairs reporting. The center also seeks reporting partnerships with existing news outlets.

The Gazette has participated with IowaWatch.org on a few projects, including a recent State Integrity Investigation in conjunction with the Center for Public Integrity, Global Integrity and Public Radio International.

The Gazette remains a strong, 129-year-old independent, family-owned news outlet, in print and online and with a commitment to engaging communities in meaningful conversation that can empower people to be good decision makers. I've put 25 years into this place so leaving is bittersweet. But I look forward to the new gig and will be eager to get started after taking care of some duties at The Gazette.

Below is the note I sent to staffers who could not attend meetings where I announced my intentions.

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Dear colleagues,

Many of you heard this when I spoke at various staff meetings today but some of you were unable to attend so I want to send this note to let you know that I am leaving SourceMedia Group and The Gazette to become executive director of the Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism. The Iowa City-based non-profit center, founded by University of Iowa journalism associate professor Stephen Berry and which operates the website www.IowaWatch.org, is devoted to investigative and public affairs reporting that can be distributed through news organizations throughout the state. This is a passion of mine and an opportunity at this point in my life on which I could not pass.

My last day at The Gazette will be Friday, April 20.

I expect to be working with you in my new role as I look for partnerships that result in good journalism. The Center for Public Integrity report on government integrity this week was the result of such a partnership, in which IowaWatch.org and Gazette staffers collaborated for an impactful story.

The decision to leave this place is difficult. I filed my first bylined story at The Gazette the afternoon of my first day on the job, March 9, 1987. Since then, I have had amazing experiences: covering stories that are now part of Iowa history; working with talented reporters, photographers, artists and editors; being part of our early efforts at newsroom convergence (and the accompanying thrill rides with Mike Wagner during a night of immigration raids); being the editor of a 129-year-old family-owned newspaper; working with supportive bosses and devoted staffers; building lasting friendships and collecting lot of great memories.