RETIREMENT COLUMN – “MY VIEW”
Foy Maloy, left, with Community Newspapers, Inc. Chairman Alan NeSmith, who shared the news that Maloy is stepping down as publisher of the News-Leader. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader
It’s hard to say good-bye
It has been an honor and privilege to serve you and our community for the past 30 years. I am proud to have been the steward of Florida’s oldest newspaper and involved in such an incredible community.
I want to thank our amazing and loyal readers. Without our readers this newspaper would not exist. An incredible audience of over 55,000 readers of every edition. Readers who love Fernandina Beach and Nassau County. And, a thank you to all of the businesses that advertised with us over the years. Thank you both for supporting local journalism.
I also want the thank my incredible team of professionals, Team News-Leader, who have made my job look easy over the years.
Our community has evolved and changed over the years and so has the News-Leader. When I arrived in 1995 the News-Leader was a small black & white weekly publication with only one color on the front page and now she’s a multi-section full-color publication full of local news, local youth sports, local events and local happenings publishing twice a week. Now delivered in print, digital and social media platforms. You see, the magic of the News-Leader is our commitment to LOCAL. Local journalism matters.
My commitment and core journalistic principles have never wavered. I remain today, a constitutional conservative and defend your right and the right of all others the precious freedom of speech. I have published a newspaper complete with varied opinions from all sides, regardless of how insane many of them were or I simply disagreed with. I afforded respect to all. Many times, did not get it back. But that is life in the new age we live in today.
Looking back, I have met thousands of interesting people and the overwhelming majority have been good people. And, I have dealt with many difficult people over the years and remained respectful to most. I have realized many people are simply miserable people, they live their lives that way. My dad told me early on, “miserable people were born miserable and they will die miserable” and he was right.
Our mission at the News-Leader never faltered over the years – to publish a distinguished and profitable community-oriented newspaper, both in print and digital platforms. My primary goal over the years was to make Nassau County an even better place to live and work. Strong local newspapers build strong and healthy communities.
One of my proudest accomplishments was my unwavering support of our amazing local non-profit organizations. Anyone who ever asked for help from their local paper received it. I have never seen so much accomplished by so few with so little. Keep up the great work.
I have been blessed to have spent my entire 50-year newspaper career working in Florida. I have always considered Fernandina my home and plan on staying around and staying engaged in our incredible community. So, be on the look-out.
I wish my team and my successor the best of luck in the future.
To quote an old southeast Georgia newspaper publisher, the News-Leader has been “Liked by many, cussed by some and read by all” throughout the years and I like it that way.
It’s time for this old publisher to unplug his laptop and move on. I will be retiring in January 2025.