From the top floor of the Hilton Hotel on County Line Road, you can see the Reservoir. If you look to the south, you can see downtown Jackson. And if you squint, you can almost see Vicksburg. What you can’t see is the future. But today, The Clarion-Ledger’s new publisher Jason Taylor offered the members of the Mississippi Press Association a glimpse into the C-L’s future. And for the first time in years, it didn’t involve the word “cuts.”
His speech was like a Cat. 5 hurricane of change. But he isn’t tearing things down. He’s rebuilding. Rebuilding content. Rebuilding revenues. Rebuilding hope.
That’s Jason. Many of you have ready met him. He has been out in the community nonstop since he arrived in town. That’s so important. As you know, the #1 rule of business in Mississippi is this: If people don’t know you, they will ignore you.
It’s hard to ignore Jason.
He has brought hope inside and outside 201 South Congress Street.
And I’m glad. Not just because my cartoons appear in the C-L (and I hope they do for a long time). No, I am excited because I am an 18-year subscriber who wants great content to read. I want all my coworkers to continue to be able to do the jobs they love. And I want to see a healthy C-L be a leader in the community. A community that I love.
I looked out the window as Jason finished his speech. I don’t know what’s over horizon. But I at least know it will be a fun and frantic race to get there.