From the editor: Words of appreciation to Belleville News-Democrat readers
As always, we thank you for your readership and support of the BND.
Over the past 20 years, we’ve ended most of our columns and notes to readers with this phrase or something like it.
I thought today it would be appropriate to start with that message.
As you know, my last day as editor of the Belleville News-Democrat is Friday, after a 20-year-run.
I am so filled with gratitude and appreciation for you - our readers - for partnering with the BND and me every day over these past 20 years, whether it’s through your subscriptions, feedback, story ideas, questions or all of the above.
I’ve spent nearly half of my professional career as the editor at the Belleville News-Democrat, a job that I’ve loved since the day I started in June 2004. I never took it for granted. It has been my dream job. I can’t imagine not working in this newsroom every day with a group of talented journalists who are dedicated to serving you and southwestern Illinois.
Many of you have been readers and subscribers for decades, beyond my tenure. I want to thank you for sticking with us and supporting us as we evolved during some challenging times for the BND and media companies across the globe. We’ve now transitioned to a digital news company to meet the needs of the vast majority of people who get their news via laptop, phone or tablet, while still serving print readers.
And I also want to thank our newer readers and subscribers, people who have jumped in and joined the BND team in the midst of our evolution. Your support and feedback have been invaluable.
Through all the change and transition, one thing that has remained steadfast is the BND’s commitment to producing strong, local public service journalism that holds public officials and institutions accountable, digs deep into issues that you care about, breaks news and provides you with information you can use to help you live your best life.
Dear readers, your support will help the BND continue this work. That’s what keeps this nearly 167-year-old institution going and thriving.
And now the BND is about to get a new leader to help serve you and move us forward. Veteran journalist Todd Eschman will be our new top editor. Todd is a Belleville native who knows and loves this region and will be a great steward of one of Belleville’s oldest institutions.
You’ll be hearing from Todd soon, but in the meantime, please reach out to him with any ideas, feedback or questions. He would be glad to hear from you at teschman@bnd.com.
That’s it for now. It’s been a privilege.
As always, we thank you for your readership and support of the BND.
