Submitted by Karen Thompson
Features Reporter
September 29, 2015 9:54 a.m.
It appears the retired Michael Parnell has been keeping some secrets over his 12-year tenure as editor of the Fernandina Beach News Leader. At the monthly Nassau County Democratic Club meeting last week he admitted that he has never, and never will, vote for a Republican for president. Parnell was a college student of the 60s, a McGovern Democrat who came of age during the anti-Vietnam war era and was passionate about the civil rights movement.
Parnell has a journalism degree from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. He worked for a variety of newspapers, and publishers, before landing in Fernandina Beach. “Papers are owned by publishers, usually Republicans. I have never owned a paper,” he joked. “Editors are stewards of papers that belong to the community. You might call it ‘refrigerator magnet journalism.’ We cover local news like obits, high school sports, meeting, wedding and anniversary announcements, and of course as many letters-to-the-editor as possible,” he said.
When questioned about the length and content of some of the letters, Parnell said they were not necessarily his opinion. “I tried to give a voice to all. With all the economic cutbacks since the recession I, honestly, didn’t have a lot of time to spend editing letters. They fill space.” He said the News Leader has lost 1/3 of its revenue since 2008.
Parnell said editors are advocates for the readers. “I’ve tried to be polite, patient and ethical. Editors and reporters collect, organize and provide the news to readers in an informative, educational and entertaining way. We try to get it right, to make a difference by giving a full voice to all. But that’s not an easy task. Sometimes we mess up.”
He said he welcomed the competition from on-line publications but said they don’t aspire to do what the News Leader does but instead “have a cause.” The blogs have no filter. They talk past each other with the louder voices getting the most attention,” he said. “I’d rather read a story by a paid professional than a story by someone unpaid with a biased opinion.”
So what will Michael Parnell like about retirement? “I will enjoy shopping at Publix during day-time hours because it makes me feel young,” he joked. “And I will read only the parts of the News Leader I like.” He received a gift at retirement…..a free subscription.
Editor’s Note: Karen moved to Fernandina Beach four years ago after working in Chicago as a senior public relations specialist for the Midwestern regional office of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. Prior to that, she was an editor, columnist and writer for a chain of Chicago newspapers , an account executive for several Chicago public relations agencies and proprietor of her own pr/marketing business. She grew up and earned her journalism degree in Wisconsin.
I guess when the newspaper is losing revenue at the rate the News-Leader is Maloy can only afford to provide his departing editor with a subscription as a retirement gift.
There may be many secrets in the world, but that is not one of them.
“I’d rather read a story by a paid professional than a story by someone unpaid with a biased opinion.”
I much prefer to read an opinion when I know the writer has a bias. That allows me to filter. What scares me is the “paid professional” who spews propaganda while pretending to be unbiased.
The UNC-CH journalism degree should have been the tip-off.
Stephen Coe
UNC-CH 1977
Stephen, please keep in mind that most paid professionals who write stories are paid by someone. That someone usually has an agenda. If, in many cases you wish to maintain your employment, you will follow that agenda regardless of your opinion.
Mr. Crawford, in the not-so-distant past there was a clear distinction in news publications between “news” and opinion. Unfortunately that distinction has been largely erased. The 5 W’s should be free from bias. An editor’s opinion is by definition slanted. The two have been conflated to the detriment of the reading public.
Michael Parnell and I had a long (by journalism standards) and congenial relationship for the four years I wrote a weekly column (unpaid) for the News-Leader. Having had no newspaper experience myself, he was a valued mentor and guide for me, and frequently prevented me from self-destructing as I went charging at local political windmills.
We knew from day-one that our personal political philosophies were at opposite ends of the spectrum, but that didn’t prevent us from having a strong friendship and passionately discussing different perspectives on many national and local issues. Not once did he try to stop me from submitting a column that I knew didn’t line up with his own views. On several occasions he suggested that I “tone down” a particular cause or position that he felt would do me more harm than good. Of course being Irish, I didn’t listen to him, and invariably he turned out to be right.
I suspect the measure of a “good editor” is one who is liked by 40% of the readers, disliked by 40% of the readers, and misunderstood by the remaining 20%. Michael was a “good editor.” On a couple of occasions Michael and I had some strong disagreements on personal political matters, and it took a long time for the wounds to heal. But they did.
Michael, if you are reading this (which is probably a long-shot), I want you to know that I truly enjoyed the opportunity you gave me for my column, and I wish you nothing but happiness and a stress-free retirement.