This week has been a rollercoaster of emotions. Going through the daily routine and realizing it's the last time I'll be sending out that email, or seeing this group of people as I drop off a paper, or posting that picture has been tough. But what's been unexpectedly harder has been the incredible outpouring of kindness, love and well-wishes since we've made the announcement that the Rockdale News is shutting down.
Your words, calls and support throughout the week have moved me to tears, and anyone who's ever worked with me can tell you that just does not happen, much.
This edition in your hands, the September 26, 2015, is the last print edition. After six and a half years, this paper, facing the changing media habits and economic tides that challenge most community newspapers today, has made the tough choices that many businesses have had to make. But while the economic legs might have stopped, the journalistic heart beats on.
We have been privileged to bear witness to some incredible stories. We have seen lives at their highest peak and lowest days. And we've seen lives reborn and creativity and innovation come when you least expect. The clichés are true - journalism is the first draft of history and the light that keeps our government and elected officials accountable. Journalism is also an exercise of trust. You, our dear readers and the community, trust us with your stories, your name, your lives. It is an awesome responsibility that any journalist worth their salt takes very seriously.
The team that brought you The News - from the ad sales persons to the graphics department, bookkeepers, IT folks, publishers, printers, paginators, copy editors, interns, carriers who got up at indecently early hours to bring you the paper, reporters/writers and photographers who spent long hours in the community - tried to live up to this trust.
In the end, it's the relationships that matter, and this week has shown that in abundance. It's also the stories that matter, passing down through the generations to form a community's identity. The space on these pages have always belonged to the people of Conyers-Rockdale. We've just been lucky enough to be the steward.
Thank you for this privilege. I hope we've done some good work during the time God had granted us and that we've been able to make a positive impact. What comes next is in His hands.
Michelle Kim was the editor of The Rockdale News. You can reach her at michelle8kim@gmail.com
Rockdale News, By The Numbers (April 4, 2009 - September 26, 2015)
351 print editions
39 digital magazine editions
1.2 million website users
2.5 million sessions
5 million pageviews
50 Georgia Press Association Awards (2010-2014)
20 first place GPA Awards (2010-2014) including General Excellence
312 County Board of Commissioners meetings /work sessions attended
156 school board meetings/work sessions attended
7 babies born to staff or staff family
Top 5 most viewed stories on rockdalenews.com, 2009-2015
CJH Coach Candace McGriff killed by fiancé (Feb. 19-25, 2015)
Magnet Bottle shooter Pitts' death ruled suicide, dash cam footage released (May 31-June 5, 2015)
Statutory rape charge for girl, 16, in sex with boy, 14, at middle school (March 4, 2014)
2nd Whitehead twin pleads guilty to manslaughter (Feb. 7, 2014)
Boil water advisory lifted (June 8, 2014)
Creators whose work has appeared in the pages of the Rockdale News:
Reporters/Editors: Tisa Smart Washington, Rory Sharrock, Michelle Kim, Nick Margiasso, Bryan Fazio, Matt Smith, Kathy Hooks, Alena Parker Cowley, John Ruch, Shakeem Holloway, Martin Rand, III, Sandra Brands. Columnists/Writers/Reporters/Contributors: Lisa Hetzel, Jessica Smith, David McCoy, Kysa Daniels, Curtis Aikens, T. Pat Cavanaugh, Pete Mecca, Ric Latarski, Nhi Ho, Jamila Harris, Nancie Greene, Carrie Huenke, Matia Storey Edwards, Kathy Peek, Dee Lewis, Rachel Loyd, Charles Walker, Peter Dykstra, Libby Staples, Jule Lynne Macie, Duncan Burris, Dale Neseman, Kari Apted, Beth McAfee Hallman, Tonya Parker, Jay Jones, Stormy Kage, Jessica Brown, Jenni Mauran, Tiffany Bentley, Ryan Gaylor, Lee Udell. Sports contributors: Bud Ellis, Ben Bussard, Michael Alpert, Stephen Black, Danny Daniels, Stephen Milligan, Rhett Lewis, Charles Phelps, James Robinson, Sean Seiler, Michael Stone, Jeremy Stone, Russ Terrell, Mark Turner, Jaime Walker, Derek Wiley, Eric Wiley, Coleman Wood, Kevin Nixon, Jameel Shareef, Keeland Caldwell. Photographers: Anthony Banks, Brittany Thomas, Roger Cannon, William Brawley, Darrell Everidge, Robert Porter, Gary Ezell, Marvin Maner. Pagination/Layout: Lee Sandow, Rachel Goff, Crystal Cole, Sabastian Wee. Interns: Amber Usmani, William Brawley, Kelsey Zahand, Matison Lakstigala, Elizabeth Leary, Elizabeth Hwang, Kaitlyn Spotts, Akeidra Lowe, Logan Bouchillion, Xavier McKnight, Javon Dickerson. (If we've missed anyone, our profound apologies and thank you for your contribution)
