JONESBOROUGH, Tennessee (WJHL) — Lynn Richardson and Marcy Hawley were seated on the porch of Hawley’s historic house in Jonesborough, discussing a cherished subject on Wednesday. Although they shared many laughs, a hint of sorrow was present in the atmosphere.
“I’m saddened to witness 156 years of history being discarded,” Richardson stated, referring to the fact thatThe Jonesborough Herald & Tribune will release its final edition on August 13.Six Rivers Media revealed this week that the paper, which is among the longest-running in Tennessee or possibly the longest, will be merged with the Johnson City Press.
Richardson served as the paper’s publisher for 15 years, spanning from 1999 to 2014.
The first thing I did was weep,” Richardson stated. “I have a strong emotional connection to the paper… it’s a symbol of significance.
Richardson and Hawley, who have provided an editorial cartoon for the newspaper for more than a decade, both acknowledged the difficulties that print media has encountered over the past few years. However, they mentioned that the announcement came as a surprise and will create a gap in the expanding community of almost 7,000 residents.
There is always a demand and a desire for information,” Richardson stated. “The Herald & Tribune served as the yes, the ears, and the voice of Jonesborough, Tennessee.
It’s worth preserving, this paper is, in one way or another,” Hawley stated. “The community benefits from having the information. And just as there are areas without access to food, there are also regions without access to news.
In a piece from the Kingsport Times-News, Six Rivers referred to the action as a merger and mentioned that the Press’s Wednesday publications will feature specific community reporting on Jonesborough. Publisher Ron Waite stated the company is still “fully dedicated to covering Jonesborough” and that “the stories, perspectives, and community spirit will keep going.”
Neither woman seemed certain that the new method would be as effective as the ongoing release of a paper that initially appeared in newsstands only four years following the conclusion of the Civil War.
It’s going to be an emptiness, a genuine emptiness, because it’s a link,” Hawley stated. “It’s the way people stay informed about everything happening in the town.
Despite many individuals staying informed via the paper, Six Rivers did not believe the advantages of continuing it were equivalent to the financial challenges the company faced due to falling advertising income and subscriptions.
The final print edition will be released just weeks after staff writer Marina Waters received a General Excellence plaque from the Tennessee Press Association. It will also mark the conclusion of Hawley’s long-standing cartoon series and the end of what Richardson described as a blend of positive news and community promotion alongside rigorous news reporting when necessary.
Mocking the BMA results in a gig
Hawley and Richardson chuckled and talked excitedly as they remembered Hawley’s unexpected start as an editorial cartoonist. The town’s five-person Board of Mayor and Aldermen was discussing summer hires, and two new members proposed a creative idea.
“The theory that every aspect of the water park, the ballfields, and everything else could be handled by volunteers,” Hawley remembered. The lifelong sketcher and painter was present with his pad and pen.
So I did a cartoon featuring the three of them in lifeguard uniforms and pool cleaning equipment. Lynn looked at it and asked, ‘May I include this in the newspaper?’ I replied, ‘Not with my name on it.’
Thus, the editorial cartoonist “Clayton” (Hawley’s middle name) came into existence, accompanied by a dog that offered much of the humorous insight. Hawley mentioned that much of the community didn’t realize she was Clayton for over a year—a period that included some incisive commentary.
When Lynn was the publisher… she didn’t hesitate to challenge politicians and hold them accountable, which led to that first cartoon and it just kept going from there.
Richardson stated that Hawley’s illustrations added a completely new aspect to the magazine — they provided it with some character.
She mentioned her personal favorite occurred following a heated Washington County Commission meeting where commissioners were unable to come to a conclusion on a particular matter.
They argued and quarreled, and eventually they simply declared a break,” Richardson said. “And, naturally, they called the break so they could talk about it behind the scenes and away from public scrutiny.
We discovered them squeezed in and around the men’s room at the Washington County Courthouse, breaking the Sunshine Law in a big way, and naturally, I let Marcy know about it, and she created an amazing cartoon. Legs and arms sticking out of the bathroom, people with their ears pressed against the door – it was remarkable.
A hunger for information
Richardson mentioned that a friend and mentor told her, following the news that Richardson had secured the publishing position, that weekly newspapers possess their own distinct personality. At that time, Richardson had already been involved in the newspaper industry for several decades.
“‘Now that’s your little town and if you look after it, it will look after you,’” she remembered her friend saying.
I listened to her, and the issue she was describing was that her view of the role and the perspective I eventually came to share is that a weekly newspaper serves as something of a cheerleader for its community. They aim to elevate that community.
Richardson stated that this was achieved most successfully by incorporating strong, impactful journalism when necessary.
We encountered some poor ones. We had investigative reports that received recognition. We accomplished all of that. However, our primary focus was to share the story of Jonesborough, and now there’s no one left to tell that tale in the storytelling hub of the world, which is truly unfortunate.
She mentioned that communities have “a need and a desire for information. It’s extremely important for people to feel connected. And that weekly newspaper, The Herald & Tribune, served as the eyes and ears and the voice of Jonesborough, Tennessee.”
Richardson mentioned that one of the most significant stories during her time involved her asking the newspaper’s editor if she would visit every Washington County school and attempt to gain entry through the back door.
She was somewhat reluctant,” Richardson said. “She remarked, ‘we’re going to end up in jail.’ I replied, ‘that’s fine. We’ll get you out.’
The author discovered that in roughly two-thirds of the schools, “it was very simple to enter through the back doors.”
The article covered the topic but did not mention the institutions, and then revisited it a year later.
There were fewer, but a few could still be accessed. The public showed strong support and was very grateful. Many calls were placed to the central office. The leadership during that time was not pleased with us at all.
If you’re doing your job properly in the newspaper industry, you won’t please everyone. To me, if you can anger half the people and please the other half, you’ve done a great job.
Hawley mentioned that she is aware of the difficulties the industry encounters. Few individuals still receive the newspaper, let alone several publications as she does.
It’s very sad,” she remarked about her first reaction and thoughts. “It’s an essential part of Jonesborough. This is occurring across the country, but how can it happen in Jonesborough?
Both women mentioned they are still holding out for a miracle while they work through a change that is common throughout the country. Hawley expressed a desire to see something fill the gap left by the paper’s exit, whether it be online or in print.
“I’m in Jonesborough, and Jonesborough is the small town that can—and we do,” she said.
A community requires a community newspaper,” Richardson stated. “Whether it’s online, in print, or a combination of both.
I hope the people of Jonesborough and its leaders appreciate that bond and the voice enough to discover a solution. And let me tell you something, if there’s one town that will find a way, it’s this one.
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