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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 2016-01-13, Page 5Postmedia Grey -Bruce - Huron group director retires after 37.5 years Mary Golem Special to Postmedia Little did Marie David know when she took a part-time job delivering papers for The Hanover Post in the summer of 1978 that it would lead to a long, successful career in the newspaper business. After 37 1/2 years - all of it work- ing at The Post - David is retiring. Her last day on the job is January 7. A new group director has yet to be named. During that time, David has worked in all aspects of the busi- ness from helping to run the presses, working in the mailroom and paper delivery to working her way up to the position of publisher and most recently, as Group Direc- tor in Postmedia's Grey -Bruce - Huron Division, overseeing the operations of ten weekly and one daily newspaper, along with two speciality papers. At one point in her career, David was the only female publisher in the Thomson -owned chain of newspapers in Canada. Known throughout the newspa- per industry for her attention to detail and "consistently hitting my budget numbers'; David said it was her father, Ernie David, who most strongly influenced her business style. "My Dad always said to never ask staff to do something you wouldn't do yourself," she said, as she talked about the various jobs in a newspa- per office - each one critical in get- ting the finished product to read- ers' hands. "I could never have accomplished what I have over the years if it wasn't for the staff I've had. My job has never been any more important than the young carrier who delivers the paper to the door." A career in the newspaper busi- ness is not what David had in mind when she graduated from John Diefenbaker Secondary School in Hanover in 1972 and headed to the University of Guelph to study Geography and Sociology. During the summer of 1978, while working in her father's construction business three days a week, David decided to apply for another part- time job. The job was at The Hanover Post, delivering papers by truck to carriers and stores. After three months of doing that, publisher Owen Smith asked David if she could sell advertising. "Initially I said "no" but said I would give it a try," she explained. "I found out I liked it, and after a year, David was offered the adver- tising manager position at The Hanover Post" Eight years later, in 1987, she became publisher of Hanover's community newspaper, a position she held until 1997, when she was asked to also become manager of the Saugeen Group of newspapers in Chesley, Durham and Markdale. Three years later, the weekly news- papers in Port Elgin and Wiarton were added to her list of responsi- bilities, and shortly after that, the newspapers in Kincardine, Luc - know, Goderich, Clinton, Seaforth and Grand Bend. Two -and -a -half years ago, she also became responsible for the operations of her first daily news- paper, The Sun Times in Owen Sound. "The challenge of managing small community newspapers is keeping them viable," David said, "a balancing act between providing as much local content as possible and trying to create new revenue ideas, all while keeping expenses to a minimum. Many people don't realize newspapers are a business. Yes, we're the heartbeat of the community - the place where eve- ryone turns to to find out what is going on in the community. But newspapers are also a business, trying to make money to survive." That struggle to continue operat- ing became apparent in December 2004 when David faced "the most difficult challenge of my career" when the decision was made to close the paid subscription papers in Durham and Chesley and con- verting Hanover to the free circula- tion paper you are now holding in your hands - The Post. "It was a matter of economics," David said, adding she considers the successful amalgamation of the three community newspapers into one paper as one of the highlights of her career. "However, having to downsize and as a result, losing good people, was definitely the most difficult thing I had to do:' Much has changed over the years. For example, when David first started at The Hanover Post, the pages were produced using hot lead and all production was done in-house. "Today, everything is computerized and the papers are printed off-site," she explained. Another highlight of David's career was when The Hanover Post outgrew its office space on Hano- ver's Main Street and a new build- ing was built in 1991. "We printed our last paper in the old location on a Thursday after- noon, moved the presses and eve- rything else, and printed our next paper in the new building on Mon- day morning. That was quite an accomplishment." As Hanover became more of a regional commercial centre, and the big box stores arrived, "that forced us to change our business style as well and that's when we became a free circulation paper to 15,800 homes - a move needed to ensure delivery of the weekly flyers to consumers," David explained. Until that time, the papers had been totally dependent on Canada Post for delivery, and David cites the establishment "of a totally new delivery system to cover all urban and rural addresses within a 40 -km radius around Hanover" as a major accomplishment in her career. Surviving through five different newspaper ownership groups - Thomson, Hollinger, Osprey, Sun Media and Postmedia - and at one point, the elimination of 90 per cent of the management level - along with developing a successful commercial printing business are other career highlights. One of the most memorable moments was when David was honoured for 25 years in the news- paper industry and presented with a Silver Quill Award by the Ontario Community Newspaper Associa- tion (OCNA), where she served on the board of directors for a number of years. Another highlight was when she accepted the responsibility as pub- lisher of her first daily newspaper, The Sun Times in Owen Sound. "Taking on a daily was a whole new learning experience," she admitted, "but I found out a daily is actually easier to run because of increased resources." "Over the years, I was often asked to leave Hanover and the weeklies, and move to a daily," she said, "but I never did. I really no desire to leave. I love this area and all it has to offer. Much the newspa- per, every day is new, different and interesting." "The advent of the internet has certainly affected newspapers," she acknowledged, saying she believes Wednesday, January 13, 2016 • Lucknow Sentinel 5 maty imam/special to rostmeaia Postmedia Grey -Bruce -Huron group director Marie David retired Jan. 7, 2016 after 37.5 years in the business. the bigger daily newspapers "are at a higher risk because of the variety of other news sources now available." Smaller newspapers, like those David has been managing in the region, "will be around forever," David predicts. "The content in these small papers is local, it's the kind of news and information you can't get on the internet - things like who scored the goals in a minor hockey league game, for example:' "There are still challenges facing these small newspapers," she said, citing technology and the internet as two of the biggest challenges. "There have always been chal- lenges, and there always will be." David spent long hours at the office, often at her desk shortly after 5 a.m., and sometimes logging over 30,000 kilometres a year. She says her early retirement "will give me a chance to do things for me," saying she is looking forward to hiking the entire Bruce Trail, cycling, snowshoeing, travelling, golf, reading, crafts and perhaps some volunteering. Although busy with her career, David also found time to give back to the community she has called home for most of her life. She has been a member of the Hanover Chamber of Commerce executive for much of her working career, is a honourary member of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters and has served on the board of direc- tors of the Hanover Civic Theatre, Hospital and Library Boards, as well as the Optimist Youth Centre executive, JDSS Reunion Commit- tee, Merchants Committee and Heart and Stroke Foundation. "Hanover has been good to me. I chose to stay here and work here because Hanover has it all, all I ever wanted:' "Work hard and your dreams will come true," my father would say to me, "and they have. It's been a great career. I can't imagine doing anything else. However, I could never have accomplished what I did without the great staff and peo- ple I've worked with over the years. They are critical to whatever suc- cess I had," she said, adding many considered her "a tough, but fair boss. I worked hard to earn the respect of my staff." As any newspaper person will tell you, the product produced each week "is both loved and hated" by its readers. "Yes, we make mistakes," David said, adding one study found that newspaper work is the second most stressful career, right behind brain surgeons. "It's because we're on public display each and every week and especially in a small town, if we make a mistake, it's the talk of the town." "There are always those who think certain items should be in the paper, and others not. What many people fail to realize is that newspa- pers are a business. Not only are we here to make money, we play play a very important role in the commu- nity, just like other small commu- nity businesses - all of which need to be supported to survive."