Editor's Notebook: Entering 2009, I resolve to ...

As the dawn breaks on a new year I, and many, many others, am looking ahead to bright new challenges while closing the books on some not-so-successful undertakings in 2008.

This past year has offered more and more varied challenges than I have ever encountered while serving as a member of the Fourth Estate.

It’s no secret the newspaper industry has taken a pounding in recent years, and The Recorder certainly hasn’t been spared. That said, I’d like to thank everyone in our News and Information Center — that’s the newsroom in today’s parlance — for their hard work and dedication this past year. I truly appreciate your efforts.

Now for what this column’s really about. For the new year, I resolve to:

-- Write my column on a more regular basis. I already have a jump on this one with the handful I wrote toward the end of 2008 — and I’m 1 for 1 in ’09.

-- Write at least one local editorial a week for this page, on a topic or issue that’s currently facing residents here in the South County.

These first two are critical because the Opinion Page should be the heart and soul of a community newspaper, a place where we can discuss the issues of the day, and where you can do so as well through letters to the editor and guest columns.

-- Drop in on more Porterville City Council meetings — even after we hire a new reporter to cover local government.

-- Attend my Rotary Club meetings with more regularity. Stop laughing, guys. I really mean it this year!

You may have noticed that all of the items I’ve listed center on my role as editor of The Recorder. I do have some personal goals for 2009 involving friends and family, but I won’t bore you with those.

I will share this one:

I resolve to read the Bible from cover to cover.

I made a similar resolution while in college. I had probably read the entire Bible at least twice during my lifetime before that, but never cover to cover beginning with the Old Testament. I thought that would be helpful, hence the New Year’s resolution.

Suffice it to say, I was successful — barely. On the next New Year’s Eve, while at a party with friends, I closeted myself in a back bedroom and pushed through James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude and Revelation with the final “Amen” coming about 10 minutes to midnight.

I’ll try not to cut it so close this time around. To help in my ultimate success I’m modifying the resolution to focus on the Old Testament in 2009.

Who knows ... maybe I’ll finish the New Testament as well.

Happy New Year.

-- Contact Editor Glen Faison at 784-5000, Ext. 1040, or gfaison@portervillerecorder.com.