THE GEORGIA PRESS ASSOCIATION is going to be in very, very good hands with the naming of Otis M. Raybon Jr. as its president. That is not “buttering up the boss” as he’s actually more akin to the assistant boss of Rome’s News Publishing Company and the writer is an “independent contractor” besides.

It is more because he is a good friend to all and any who believe in the importance of community journalism.

That means not only fellow publishers but also, and most important of all, readers and all others who want to be kept apprised of what is going on around them.

By the way Raybon, currently publisher of the Rome News-Tribune, has been involved with newspapers since he started delivering the Griffin Daily News at age 11. Such long experience is not easy to find although, interestingly enough, this newspaper has at least two other “life-long newspapermen” of elder statesman credentials remaining active in the pursuit of news to share.

In what is ceaselessly called “troubled times” for the print media, sailing into heavy weather with a veteran helmsman to keep freedom of information on the course the Founding Fathers intended is a good thing.