Forty-four months ago, I introduced myself as ombudsman, inviting everyone to question and comment on, and complain about, this paper’s news coverage and its journalists.
Thousands took me up on that offer.
Today, I say goodbye.
I am returning to the newsroom, where I will be reporting on issues important to Orange County’s citizens.
I am taking with me a huge storehouse of knowledge learned from conversations with readers.
I’m also taking with me a clear understanding of readers’ expectations.
I certainly will keep in mind the many frustrated readers who called about poor grammar and spelling.
I’ll keep in mind their anger over factual errors, especially disgust at failure to accurately report on local people, places and things.
I’ll remember challenges about bias, about including all relevant points of view, and about including the necessary background and context.
I’ll remember to critique whether my reporting is fair and to understand the possible consequences of my work – before it is written and published.
I’ll regularly question my news judgments.
I’ll return your phone calls and respond to your e-mails.
I’ll listen.
I’ll try to meet the newspaper’s coverage goals – to be constructive, authoritative, interactive, diverse and essential.
I’ll try to meet the newspaper’s mission – to build community.
If I fail to do any of these things, I suspect I’ll be hearing from you again.
But don’t think you have to wait for a mistake.
I welcome your insights and information as it might apply to my new beat.
Stay vigilant.
Demand high quality.
You deserve it.
Thank you.
FROM THE EDITOR
Twenty years of Register history ends today when Dennis Foley leaves the job of ombudsman to become a county reporter. While the Register has been one of the few American newspapers to have a designated reader representative – beginning with Pat Riley in 1981 – financial pressures and newsroom restructuring have led us to reassign the resource to our core mission of newsgathering.
We take this action reluctantly, but believe that we have created a new arrangement that will allow us to continue our dedication to listening to you, our readers, and responding to your questions and concerns.
First, we plan to keep our dedicated phone mailbox and e-mail address for reader feedback. We also commit to honoring our company’s Bill of Rights promise to respond within 24 hours.
Please call or write anytime. If you do not get an appropriate or timely response, feel free to contact me directly.
The newspaper has a long history of immediately correcting factual errors. That will not change. Our corrections will continue to appear on Page 4 of the News section.
I want to personally thank Dennis for his work over the last three years. He has served with distinction, taking thousands of your phone calls, making hundreds of speeches to community groups and writing dozens of columns that explained journalism coverage.
Although the ombudsman’s role will become the mission of our entire newsroom staff, our commitment to credibility, accuracy and authoritativeness will not flag.
I promise.
Tonnie L. Katz
