Daily Democracy

Ryan Blethen discusses the press, media and democracy. Daily Democracy is part of the Democracy Papers, a series of articles, essays and editorial opinion examining threats to our freedoms of speech and the press.

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May 5, 2008 4:39 PM

Fancher story

Posted by Ryan Blethen

Seattle Times reporter Carol Ostrom had a nice story about Michael Fancher in Sunday's local section. Pleas check it out if you missed it. The piece can be found here.

Fancher has been a friend and mentor to me for many years. He has always been the face of the newspaper for my generation of Blethens. He became executive editor in 1986 when many of us were beginning to regularly read the newspaper as teenagers.

What a newspaper he helped shape. The Times won four Pulitzers and was a finalist 13 times under his leadership. He created a place that attracted a lot of smart, talented journalists.

Fancher can say he did something not many people have a chance to do. Through his career he not only molded the Times into a great newspaper, he made the Puget Sound region, and the state a better place.

You will be missed Mike.

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