Flanagan to resign John Flanagan, editor in chief and publisher of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin during one of its most turbulent periods, will step down and become the newspaper's contributing editor effective Oct. 1.
as Star-Bulletin
top editor
The 15-year veteran of the
newspaper will still write
columns several times a weekStar-Bulletin staff
"After 15 years at the Star-Bulletin -- including two tumultuous years during which the paper's future was in doubt -- I feel it's time to tackle a new challenge," he said yesterday.
The Star-Bulletin's owner, David Black, said the newspaper would not be in business today if not for Flanagan's efforts.
"John deserves a lot of the credit for saving the Star-Bulletin," Black said. "He's battled every day for more than a year to keep it alive."
On March 14, Black completed his purchase of the Star-Bulletin ending nearly two years of uncertainty for the paper that began in September 1999 when the previous owner, Liberty Newspapers L.P., announced it would close the Star-Bulletin in return for a $26 million payment from Gannett Pacific Corp., owner of the Honolulu Advertiser.
Fearing a newspaper monopoly in Honolulu, the state and a citizens' group filed lawsuits that blocked the paper's closure. The lawsuits were settled before trial after Liberty and Gannett agreed to put the Star-Bulletin up for sale.
"Through all the distractions, controversy and the ownership change, the Star-Bulletin maintained its high quality of journalism," Black said. "John should be very proud of that."
Don Kendall, Star-Bulletin president, will also assume the publisher's position. Managing Editor Frank Bridgewater, a 17-year veteran at the paper, will direct newsroom operations.
Flanagan's new job is the position long held by A.A. "Bud" Smyser, who wrote columns on Hawaii's personalities and events for the Star-Bulletin's editorial pages for 18 years until his death in March.
"Those are big shoes to fill," Flanagan said.
Flanagan's column will appear several times a week.