Editorial page editor leaves Philadelphia daily p. 21

By: Tony Case

THE AWARD-WINNING editorial page editor of the Philadelphia Daily News has left the newspaper over what he characterized as diminishing resources and his boss called philosophical reasons.
Richard Aregood, 52, who had worked at the News since 1966, oversaw the editorial page for 20 years. A lifelong resident of New Jersey, he takes over as head of the editorial board of the state's biggest paper, the Newark Star-Ledger, on Feb. 27.
"I was losing space and staff," he explained, "and I was offered the opportunity to build a staff."
Aregood, who earned journalism's prestigious Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing in 1985, felt press accounts about his move overemphasized ideological fisticuffs he had with News editor Zachary Stalberg.
But Stalberg stressed the conflict cannot be overlooked.
"It's a matter of degree, but there was some philosophical difference between us, and I don't want to ignore that," he said. "It was an issue in the conversations."
Stalberg added that, despite their clashes in opinion, his friendship with Aregood was stronger than ever.
"I was looking for an editorial section that worked hard to get things accomplished," the editor related, "and I think that Rich felt comfortable with one that expressed a point of view, although in a very intense way."
In a memo to the staff concerning Aregood's departure, Stalberg expressed desire for an editorial section that was as "influential and dynamic as possible" and "always struggling to improve," not one with a "different ideological viewpoint."
Aregood wouldn't comment on the memo.
"I don't blame Zach," he said, "and, to some extent, I don't blame Knight-Ridder," parent company of the tabloid News and its broadsheet sister, the Philadelphia Inquirer. "I got the opportunity to do more with more, not more with less."
Before he took to putting opinions on paper, Aregood held many editing posts at the News, including news editor, features editor and deputy sports editor. Previously, he worked for New Jersey newspapers, including the Burlington County Times in Willingboro and the now-defunct weekly Mount Holly Herald.
News deputy editorial page editor Don Harrison, who will perform Aregood's old duties until a successor is named, wrote a column last week, praising Aregood for his long service to the paper and its readers.
"Exasperating in many ways, sometimes incomprehensible in speech ? but always crystal clear in print ? and incorrigibly strong-willed, he has an extraordinary talent, a sense of outrage and biting wit, which make him perhaps the No. 1 editorial writer in America," Harrison said.
Signe Wilkinson, the paper's Pulitzer-winning editorial cartoonist, described Aregood as "boss, friend, muse, great handholder."
"The editor-cartoonist relationship is one of the most fragile ones in journalism," she said, "and I have been lucky to have had such a good one for 91/2 years. I feel blessed."
Wilkinson recalled that a few years ago, the Philadelphia City Council decided to recognize Aregood with a citation. Naturally, a ceremony was planned.
Local officials, friends and colleagues gathered for the occasion. But the honoree was nowhere to be found ? he had forgotten all about it.
"Aregood would stand up the pope," Wilkinson joked. "He's an adorable flake."