Publishing a community newspaper has been a huge honor and an awesome responsibility; now it’s time to pass the baton.

This week, my wife, Suzanne, and I reached an agreement to sell The Albany Journal to local journalist Tom Knighton effective Nov. 1.

I’ve had tougher assignments; I once owned a restaurant, after all. Still, newspaper publishing has been a wild ride. It’s one of those jobs that never ends; it’s schizophrenia on deadline, especially for a mom-and-pop organization like ours.

Mostly, though, the experience has been grand. I am eternally grateful to the wonderful people in this community for their incredible support and encouragement over the years. My family is truly blessed.

Chicago newspaper publisher Leo Lerner once said, “A fistfight on Clark Street is more important to our readers than a war in Europe.” That’s overstated, but I agree that local newspapers have the duty of affirming a sense of community and it’s for that reason, the Journal has evolved into decidedly hyper-local publication by design. I am particularly pleased that our editorial (aka Outlook) page has become one of the community’s most prominent sources of ideas and a breeding place for local activism..

Community journalism is vitally important in a democracy and I am hopeful for Albany’s sake that the Journal’s best work is yet to be done. I am confident that Tom and his family will do a fabulous job as the newspaper enters a new era.

We wish the Knightons well and hope that you will continue to keep community journalism alive and well in Albany by buying, reading and advertising in the Journal.

By Kevin Hogencamp