TNR says goodbye to colleague, friend

Saying goodbye to a friend, let alone a best friend, someone who is kind of like a brother, is never easy.

But that’s what we’re doing. We’re saying goodbye to one of the journalists who helped change the way The News Record does business. Our Web site, newsrecord.org, at one point, was a place to post stories already in print.

Now, newsrecord.org is an award-winning collegiate newspaper Web site (We’re going receive the award tomorrow.). We’re proud of the site — it has an enhanced multimedia section and online exclusive content. From Sunday through Wednesday, we’ve had more than 16,000 page views. Not bad considering last year we averaged about 1,700 hits per production.

Building the audience took time, patience and a vision. Every team member has contributed to making it possible, but there’s unanimous consent that much of it wouldn’t be possible without the direction of one team member in particular.

A few weeks ago The News Record family found out that managing editor Kareem Elgazzar was leaving … Forever.

Well, maybe not forever, but that’s kind of what it feels like. Kareem accepted a job as a general assignment reporter, with an emphasis on sports, at The Morning Journal, in Lorain, Ohio. (Lorain is about 30 minutes west of Cleveland.)

He moves to Lorain Friday.

For the last three years, Kareem has been an instrumental part of our daily operations. He’s been the man of many hats, starting as a news reporter moving to opinion editor, photo editor and finally to managing editor and Web editor.

As opinion editor, Kareem changed the page’s perception and presentation, giving it a more international emphasis with poignant articles and columns (including The Fashion Dungjen, of course). At that time, 2008-09, I was on the news desk; Kareem and I became fast friends. How could we not? The guy was reading about chronic wedgies and quadraboob.

I don’t know if Kareem ever heard the word quadraboob before my column.
In March 2009, Kareem became a co-photo editor. He was a natural. His photos, especially sports photos, were unrivaled. As far as I’m concerned, Kareem might be one of the best college sports photographers in the country.

Even beyond my testament, he has the award to back it up. In 2009, Kareem’s photo of a very sweaty, very angry-looking Brian Kelly was named the best sports photo in the Society of Professional Journalists region 4. The photo went on to be judged on a national level.
As TNR’s managing editor, my second in command, we, with our incredible team, have turned the newspaper into a news organization. We’ve recruited, what we think, is one of the best News Record staffs in a long time — something that, undoubtedly, wouldn’t have been possible without the work of editors before us.

Ariel Cheung will step up as managing editor. Jayna Barker will take Ariel’s job as college living and spotlight editor.

I feel comfortable saying Kareem will be missed by everyone on staff. We’ll continue producing one of the top student newspapers in the country after he’s gone, but it will be obvious something’s missing. The lessons Kareem has taught us, all of us, will not be soon forgotten.

Kareem, thank you, for everything you’ve given to The News Record. We miss you already.
Check out the editors’ blog, Off The [News] Record, to watch the team’s farewell/good luck video for Kareem.