As I write this, it’s Friday morning. Today is Jessica Bricker’s last day and I still haven’t come to terms with it. I will, just not today.
When I started here more than 5 years ago, there were a few people that I wondered if I would ever connect with. Jessica was one of them.
She invited me to lunch and we started talking and haven’t stopped. Our shared passion for this newspaper was evident from the beginning and eventually led to her being named editor a few years ago.
We have had a knack for making big changes on top of her biggest life events. Nearing her wedding day, we promoted her to assistant editor. While she was on maternity leave we converted from carrier delivery to mail, necessitating us to print in the middle of the night. When we promoted her to editor I remember saying that we finally didn’t trample on a big life event. That was mid-February 2020. We all know what happened next.
Life events have necessitated many changes for Jessica, including today being her last day at The News-Banner. July 5th will be her first day as communication specialist for BHMSD and I couldn’t be happier for her. That doesn’t change the fact that I am deeply saddened about the loss of a great ambassador for this newspaper, a fantastic editor and a really good friend. The friend part doesn’t end Friday at 5 p.m., but it will surely evolve.
Jessica was approved for employment by the BHMSD board in April. She has termed the past few months as the longest goodbye in the history of goodbyes. She and I had a pact not to get sentimental or mushy during that time but that’s out the window on her final day.
Today is a day of mushy, sentimental appreciation. I won’t give all of the details in print. Personal friendships should and will stay personal, despite how public this job can be.
I’ve heard from a few subscribers who have asked about her and if she’s really leaving. Yes she is.
The void she leaves will be felt beyond our brick walls. Her greatness as a reporter and an editor are hard to define, but I will try.
She has a competitive streak that I first saw on the golf course. I often say that everything is a competition. If my wife and I are both driving, I take a different route just to see if I can beat her home. Jessica is cut from that same cloth. She wants to be the best and she wants the same for this newspaper. She attacks a story like no one I’ve ever seen. When most reporters think they have covered a story and move on, Jessica may only be getting started. There are many examples of her tenaciousness. Once she is on a subject she follows it to the end.
She is compassionate to the plight of people she writes about. It is easy to be hardened and cold in this business. There are times to be detached to stay objective and times to feel the subject’s pain to adequately share the emotion of what has transpired.
Dave Schultz once gave an analogy about Jessica. Some of us are plow horses and some are race horses, meaning some are grinders and some are superstars. Jessica, in Dave’s assessment, is a race horse.
He isn’t wrong and I agreed with him for quite some time. I have come to the conclusion, however, that she is a rare combination of grinder and superstar. That may not seem like a compliment, but for our industry, I believe it’s the highest tribute. Based on what I hear as I’m out and about, you agree.
So here we are on her final day.
Are we sad? Yes. Will we miss Jessica’s presence both on these pages and in the office? Of course. We are, at the same time, encouraged by our recent staffing additions. She and I have worked diligently to keep this newspaper in position to maintain our high standards.
One last bit of sappiness. For years I have posted signs by the employee entrance. Some have been witty, some inspirational but most have been just goofy. For a while I’ve had one quote on the wall. ‘The whole world is short staffed, be kind to those who showed up. Thank you’. Today the sign reads “It’s been a great nine years. You will be missed”.
Jessica Bricker, we wish you well but we’re going to miss you tremendously.
dougb@news-banner.com
