Editor of Santa Cruz Paper Quits After 15 Years

By: Tom Honig, who served as editor of the Santa Cruz Sentinel for 15 years, announced Tuesday that he is stepping down.
"Change is in the air. ... It's time to move on," said Honig, who didn't immediately say what his future plans were. "But I take comfort in the talent, news sense and commitment by those on our young staff."

Honig, 59, whose resignation is effective Friday, will be replaced by Don Miller, who has served as the Sentinel's managing editor since 1998. The managing editor position will not be filled, according to publisher David Regan.

"I've worked day in, day out with Don Miller for 25 years. He understands Santa Cruz and understands journalism," Honig said. "He'll do fine; the paper's in good hands."

Honig began his journalism career at the now-defunct Palo Alto Times, where he was hired as a reporter in 1970. He moved to the Sentinel two years later, and was named the paper's editor in 1992.

Last month, the offices of the newspaper, bought by Denver-based MediaNews Corp. earlier this year, moved to Scotts Valley with a staff of 92?down from a high of 132. Nine positions out of 38 have been cut in the editorial department, Honig said.

"Reporters, photographers and editors are among the most under-appreciated people in any business," Honig said. "If I had two wishes, this is what they'd be: that people would stop complaining about hard-working, honest mainstream journalists long enough to appreciate the work they do?and second, that the people could be paid what they're worth."