April 30th, 2015 by WCBC Radio
The Cumberland Times News announced via a news article on Thursday that longtime managing editor Jan Alderton is reiring after 48 years in the newspaper business. Alderton will retire June 1. The Times News article reports that Alderton and Times-News Publisher Robin Quillon jointly announced the retirement to the newspaper’s editorial staff Thursday.
“I’ll greatly miss not being part of the Times-News family and my role as the newsroom leader. We work hard every day to report hometown news and give our readers and advertisers a first-rate newspaper day in and day out,” Alderton said.
Quillon said: “Jan will be sorely missed by everyone here at the Times-News. Over the past 47-plus years, Jan has honorably provided the steady, experienced hand on the wheel. His impact on the community over the many years has been tremendous.
“As editor, Jan honorably was the keeper of what is balanced, just and fair. We wish him well in his well-earned retirement.”
Alderton began his career in 1967 as a proofreader for The Cumberland News. In 1969 he was City Hall reporter for The News and in the 1970s covered the Maryland General Assembly in Annapolis.
He worked in virtually every newsroom position over the years, including brief stints as a sports reporter and editorial page editor.
He has been Times-News managing editor since 1999. He was editorial page editor from 1992 to 1999 and also served as managing editor from 1987 to 1992.
One of his priorities has been government transparency and open meetings. “I hate closed meetings. They impede our function as a watch dog for the public and are a disservice to the constituents who elect public officials,” he said.
Alderton said he has been privileged to work as a journalist at a time when monumental changes occurred in the industry. When he began at the Times-News, the newspaper had linotype machines. Later cut-and-paste “cold type” came into use, followed by computers.
“Today the newspaper is so much more than a printed product. We have a vibrant website where we post stories, photos and video throughout the day. Much of the content that is in the morning paper has already appeared on our website. We report news as soon as it happens. We also reach out to people through Facebook, Twitter and other social media,” Alderton said.
He said newspapers have a bright future. “Newspapers remain relevant. Much of the news you read on the Internet is generated by newsrooms across the nation and in the world,” he said.
Alderton attended Allegany College of Maryland and Frostburg State University. He and his wife, Donna, have two daughters, Linda Steele and Jennifer Krampf, and two grandchildren, Jordan Krampf and Alex Steele.
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