White Rock香蕉视频直播檚 Rick O香蕉视频直播機onnor is still getting acclimated to relaxation, he admits.

But the former President and CEO of the Black Press Media Group 香蕉视频直播� owners of news media outlets in BC, Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Washington State, Alaska, and Hawaii 香蕉视频直播� said it香蕉视频直播檚 a transition he香蕉视频直播檚 more than ready to make.

香蕉视频直播淭he first 10 days has been fantastic,香蕉视频直播� O香蕉视频直播機onnor 香蕉视频直播� who retired from his post on Sept. 2 香蕉视频直播� said Monday.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 so used to saying I香蕉视频直播檓 not going to do this or that on Sunday, because Monday is coming up,香蕉视频直播� he added. 香蕉视频直播淣ow Monday doesn香蕉视频直播檛 matter as much.香蕉视频直播�

O香蕉视频直播機onnor said he and his wife Pam, who moved to the Semiahmoo Peninsula in 1991 and raised their family here, are looking forward to eventually travelling to favourite places around the world.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檇 love to do a golf trip to Ireland and Scotland 香蕉视频直播� my wife has already been there 香蕉视频直播� and to revisit Italy and Hawaii and other places we香蕉视频直播檝e been to and loved,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut we香蕉视频直播檙e not going to be travelling too much until travel becomes easier.香蕉视频直播�

O香蕉视频直播機onnor, formerly a Peace Arch Hospital Foundation board member, said he plans to continue his 香蕉视频直播減assionate involvement香蕉视频直播� with the development and improvement of services at the hospital, and in promoting health care in general in the community.

And while he香蕉视频直播檚 not been actively involved in coaching softball and soccer since the days of his children香蕉视频直播檚 athletic careers (he was recently named to the BC Softball Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport, including launching the UBC Women香蕉视频直播檚 Varsity Softball program in 2009) he still retains a lively interest in local sporting organizations.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 wonderful to see how, in a community like this, they continue to offer an involvement opportunity,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e not moving anywhere, so obviously we香蕉视频直播檒l stay involved in the community in any way we can.香蕉视频直播�

O香蕉视频直播機onnor said he would probably have chosen to retire a couple of years earlier, after a 40 year-plus career in the newspaper and media business.

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香蕉视频直播淏ut then COVID hit 香蕉视频直播� which became an exercise in crisis management. We香蕉视频直播檝e kind of got through that now, so I thought that this is probably the time to hand things over to other colleagues in Black Press Media.香蕉视频直播�

His first involvement with newspapers came in the late 1970s when he was working for a radio station in Prince George that had established a satellite station in Vanderhoof.

香蕉视频直播淥ur job was to provide an on-air presence in the morning, to go out and sell ads and then come back and record and produce them,香蕉视频直播� he remembered. 香蕉视频直播淭hen in the evening we香蕉视频直播檇 cover events and add voice clips to the stories.

香蕉视频直播淭he radio station was connected to the newspaper there 香蕉视频直播� in the same building 香蕉视频直播� so I got to watch it at work. Then a little while later, in 1978, when everybody in town was complaining about the existing newspaper, I sold my car, bought some equipment and started a paper of my own.香蕉视频直播�

It was a different world, O香蕉视频直播機onnor recalled 香蕉视频直播� one without cellphones or the internet.

香蕉视频直播淭he primary means of communication was through the newspaper 香蕉视频直播� it was through that you set about winning the hearts and minds of the readers. Now there are so many different platforms people can receive information from.香蕉视频直播�

O香蕉视频直播� Connor recalled that some of his happiest times were meeting the challenges of starting up new newspapers 香蕉视频直播� something he did in many markets after selling his first two papers to Black Press Media in 1983, first as vice president of newspapers for the Lower Mainland Publishing Company, and later from 1998, as president of the Metro Valley Newspaper Group.

But as 香蕉视频直播渆xciting and stimulating香蕉视频直播� as these experiences were, O香蕉视频直播機onnor 香蕉视频直播� who was awarded the prestigious Dean Lesher award in 2009 for outstanding contributions to the community newspaper industry in North America 香蕉视频直播� believes the really exciting time to be in the media industry is now, after the last 20 years of technological advances, when news is 香蕉视频直播渋nstantaneous香蕉视频直播� and there are multiple opportunities for journalists to interact with the public.

While competing for business with media giants such as Google and Facebook presents undeniable challenges, O香蕉视频直播機onnor said the benefits of being able to communicate in more sophisticated ways still outweighs them.

More than that, he said, he believes maintaining locally-based media is a crucial component in the fabric of communities, and society in general, with professional journalism continuing to act as as a necessary analytical 香蕉视频直播渇ilter香蕉视频直播� for the polarized viewpoints to be found all over the web.

香蕉视频直播淎nd having watched (hometown paper) the Peace Arch News over the years and the kind of work people there have done, and the work they continue to do for the community, I香蕉视频直播檇 like to continue to encourage people to support their local newspaper and media company,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Even in retirement mode, he suspects he will still be involved in the industry part-time.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 interested in how we can create a business model for newspapers and media companies that is sustainable 香蕉视频直播� how can I use my years of experience to create something, down the road, that everyone will benefit from, not just Black Press.香蕉视频直播�

alex.browne@peacearchnews.com
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