Opinion

Help me get to know my new home

I need your help. I'm new to town and so is my company, Lee Enterprises. Would you be willing to show me around and tell me about Tucson? On Friday, Lee completed its purchase of Pulitzer Inc., and the Arizona Daily Star instantly became the second- largest among 58 daily newspapers in our group. I have the privilege of joining the Star as its publisher and editor, effective June 20. I'll be counting on the staff to help bring me up to speed, and Jane Amari, current publisher and editor, has promised to introduce me to the community prior to her retirement later this summer. But ultimately, the newspaper can't succeed without you, the reader. We appreciate the time you spend with us each day. We want the time to be well spent, so we need to understand your wants and needs. In the coming days and months, I'll be asking you to help me understand what you want in a newspaper and its Web site. To give you something to think about, let me share a few of my ideas with you. I very much like the notion of the newspaper as a candid friend to the community - one who will be there to celebrate the good times, but also one who is unafraid to speak the truth and point out (tactfully) when you might be making a mistake. I see the core mission of the newspaper as being a watchdog on government and other powerful interests, to serve the public good and fulfill our First Amendment duties. We want to inform, entertain and surprise our readers. We want to be a mirror to our community. We want to connect people to each other and information they need, whether it's news or advertising. These are just some initial thoughts, formed over the years working with committed journalists trying to respond to readers in places like Lincoln, Neb., and Madison, Wis. I know what you're thinking. Just what Tucson needs - another snowbird. So help me get acquainted with my new home. What do I need to know about Tucson? What do you see as the role of the newspaper in the community? Drop me an e-mail or send me a letter. I'll be back in touch soon.