<em>WaPo</em> Journos Leave on Sweet, Grateful Notes

After the barrage of internal memos from WaPo brass last week for reporters and editors taking the buyout, now we have the emails from the journalists bidding their own farewells. Some are short and sweet. Others are longer and well, sad. Many express gratitude and thankfulness to colleagues. One compares leaving WaPo to a "breakup." Marty Barrick writes, "It has been an honor to work with all of you. Thanks for the lovely send-off. I'll close with a sample of one of my new ventures." (The graphic he included is called "Ode Newspaper.") Terry Sapienza said simply: "It's been an incredible and unmatchable 15 years. Thanks to everyone who played a part. Terri" And Nathan Willis: "It's been a wonderful eight years at The Post. I feel blessed to have worked with such intelligent, talented and dedicated people every day. And I'm not going far, so stay in touch!" And Lisa Frazier: "Thanks for 17 years full of great memories. With gratitude, Lisa" Roger Newkirk's letter is maybe the saddest: "It's been a pleasure spending my entire work years here at the Post. I started here fresh outta high school while in college and pretty much never left. Just applying anywhere else is gonna feel weird, but at the end of the day life is about opportunities and I felt this was one I couldn't let pass me by. It was probably the hardest decision of my life because of you, the staff. I care for you all like immediate family and would love for everyone to keep in touch. I'm on Facebook, my email is BLANK and cell is the same. All the best." And Ben de la Cruz went with semi-funny: Subject: Breaking up "#itsnotyouitsme Why does this feel like a breakup? There were tears and some heartfelt words. We made promises to remain friends. I meant it and hope you did, too. I will miss your camaraderie and talent, but won’t be far away at NPR. Ben" Avis Thomas-Lester went the longer route... From: Avis Thomas Lester Subject: Another goodbye. When will it ever end! "As former football great Don Meredith used to say when signing off Monday Night Football years ago: "Turn out the lights, the party's over. They say that all good things must end. Call it tonight, the party's over. And tomorrow starts the same old thing again." After 22 years, the party is over for me here. As of 6:30 p.m., I'm "separating" from TWP, striking out for new adventures with my buyout in my handbag. I've found myself a new party--revamping and running a small news operation as executive editor of The Afro American Newspapers. It gives me great pleasure to know that my new title is the same as Marcus's and eclipses Vernon's! I am thrilled with my new challenge and while I am not sad to go, I will certainly miss much of my time here and many of my colleagues. (Notice that I said "much" and "many.") Good luck and make sure to get your Afro subscriptions asap. You won't want to miss what happens! Peace! Avis Thomas-Lester Formerly of The Washington Post" Doug Worthy went with less is more... "Mr. Conductor, the next stop is for me! My journey here at the Post has been great....,but my time to depart has come. I want to thank all of you for the support, knowledge and love, I'm leaving with. I will keep the multitude of great memories near and dear. Let's keep in touch. Doug Worthy"

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WaPo Journos Leave on Sweet, Grateful Notes

Betsy Rothstein

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Betsy Rothstein