I am Larry Spears, who worked 14 wonderful months at the Record-Bee when the editor was Elizabeth Larson. I have been rooting for her since she started the LakeCoNews website to bring quality journalism to Lake County.

I was greatly inspired on Wednesday to read the column of appreciation by Mandy Feder, who has been part of this inspiring enterprise.

I was a newsman for 40 years, mostly at the Oakland Tribune and Contra Costa Times, and wrote freelance a while for Dow Jones. I and my aged peers are greatly saddened, downright morose, by the collapse of print journalism.

But it is inspiring to read Mandy's appreciation of Elizabeth, and it gives hope. These two young people came into the biz in time for a seeming Armageddon, yet here they are, dedicated, passionate, professional and talented, fighting the good fight. I hope the people of Lake County appreciate this effort.

Elizabeth and Mandy and the folks working with them are the hope. If the future of journalism is on the Web, it is heartening to know that pros like them are doing it. It raises my spirits, and I'm certain the geezers to whom I am emailing Mandy's letter will feel as uplifted as I do.

Larry Spears lives in Eugene, Ore.

{mos_sb_discuss:4}