Todays web bonus Keep up with Glenn after retirement, @glenngilbert2

DIGITAL FIRST GILBERTS PAST

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History of OP Executive Editor revealed

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EDITIONS OF THE OAKLAND PRESS SINCE GLENN BEGAN WORKING HERE ON 8-7-06

2,688

THERE HAVE BEEN

Bright future ahead

Monday, December 16, 2013

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GOODBYE, GLENN
OP EXECUTIVE EDITOR RETIRES

TheOaklandPress.com

Sounding off
Heres what people have to say about Glenn... Its been awesome working with Glenn over the past year and half. He has seen and worked through so much change during his career...he just gets stuff done and its been a real joy to work with him. Glenn is a consumate pro and a total team player both locally here in Michigan and for Digital First Media. Most importantly, Glenn is a great leader, and Ive really learned a lot watching him operate! I didnt want to see Glenn go this soon, but Im really happy for him personally as he starts on another journey in his life. Jim ORourke: Publisher Glenn has been an amazing boss, and I feel so lucky that I got the chance to work with him. Because of him, I became a better journalist. He also taught me to be confident as a writer. And confident in my fashionsense thank you for that! Like he has told me that I remind him of his daughter, he has also become my work dad. The Oakland Press will never be the same without him. He has achieved so much in his journalistic career yet remained humble. And I will always admire him for that. Monica Drake: Community Engagement Editor, fashionista Its important I clarify something right off the bat: I learned everything I know from Glenn Gilbert. While it was nice to work alongside someone who looks like the twin of Matt Damon, his good looks did not overshadow his contributions to The Oakland Press and newspapers across Michigan. I heard he worked in Ohio once, too. Glenn faced massive challenges coming into Michigan years ago, and thats something we ought not forget. What hes managed to do in his time at the helm is amazing, and I wish him a happy retirement full of turtles successfully crossing the road and a robust vegetable garden. Karen Workman Glenn, I always appreciated your straight-forward, commonsense leadership style. I especially appreciate your support of the copydesk as we took on a greater workload. Best wishes for a welldeserved retirement. Lee Dryden

Glenn Gilbert leaves the newsroom after a nearly 50-year career in journalism

THE OAKLAND PRESS-TIM THOMPSON

John Turk + Monica Drake Dynamic Duo

Glenn Gilbert has been in journalism since before he graduated from the University of Michigan in 1972. I think I was in junior high when I wrote my rst piece for the school newspaper, said Gilbert. Early on I found out that you could express yourself through the media. In his nearly 50-year career, The Oakland Press executive editor has come full circle. Hes spent seven years atop the Press newsroom, and in that time has grown from executive editor at the Pontiac-based paper to a group editor of all 21st Century newspapers in Michigan. Steve Buttry, digital transformation editor at Digital First Media, said, Glenn is the prototype Digital First editor: A solid, experienced journalist whos still learning. Hes an excellent model for traditional journalists, proving that we can pursue excellence and experimentation simultaneously. Its tting that Gilbert now oversees The NewsHerald Newspapers in Southgate, the same organization he started as an editor and reporter at in 1968. He has maintained Pontiac as the hub for state and local news for our parent companies through many changing market conditions

Glenn is the prototype Digital First editor: A solid, experienced journalist whos still learning. Hes an excellent model for traditional journalists, proving that we can pursue excellence and experimentation simultaneously.
Steve Buttry, digital transformation editor
THE OAKLAND PRESS-TIM THOMPSON

Glenn Gilbert fantisizes about retirement bination Award, which recognizes the publisher during a meeting that has proven the value of their products in terms
and has been instrumental in providing journalistic leadership and a strong organizational structure throughout the state. That was made evident in 2010, when The Oakland Press was named as one of 10 newspapers in the country that do it right by Editor & Publisher Magazine. Just this fall, the paper won from the Local Media Association its Best Web/Print Comof readership, individualization of content and advertising revenue. Since taking over as executive editor of The Oakland Press, Gilbert has also been active in the community, forming citizen advisory panels to take reader input, hosting community roundtables and participating in the Committee of 50, Gilbert/ Page G3

MEDIA WARS

Starship O.P. commander leaves crew behind in 2014

Diana DillaberMurray Starship O.P. Historian & Mascot

Starship O.P. Commander Glenn Gilbert is about to enter a new portal that will take him to a world beyond any that those left on deck and in the galley can imagine. There were rumors that Gilbert was abandoning Starship O.P. in the midst of the Sacks

Attack. But Gilbert said there is no truth to what he called, that viscious lie. I have no choice but to go forth from this parent company to another galaxy to locate new technology so my crew can defend themselves from those evil Meedeeia galaxies where populations dare to call themselves MultiMEEEDIA journalists. Gilbert said he had done an exploratory

mission by slipping thorugh the GNPortal but found, although fruitful, there was not adequate new technology to protect the Starship O.P. from the growing onslaught from the Galaxy of KOMPITISHUNN. Many of Gilberts staff could be heard sobbing as the news of his departure into the u n k now n wa s leaked by Gilberts Lt. Starship/ Page G2
PHOTO COURTESY OF STARSHIP COMMAND

Glenn, you are smart to take retirement while youre still young enough to enjoy your life. God bless you and make the most of it. Starship O. P. Commander, Glenn Gilbert.
WHAT IS RETIREMENT LIKE?

See what the future holds: Keep up with the adventures of the Starship O.P. and its future endeavors at THEOAKLANDPRESS.COM

Nicole Robertson: Arts + Entertainment Editor

OPEN TO IDEAS

COLUMNIST NEEDED

Its been a great experience working with Glenn. Hes always been open to new ideas and helping us implement them. And I think that is a big reason The Oakland Press is a leader in the companys digital ventures. Aftab Borka
INDEX

We need your help!

The Oakland Press is searching for a replacement columnist to fill the Forum page. We have very high standards. PAGE G4

Despite his professional and mostly button-down demeanor, Ive always felt Glenns great support for what I do hints at a wild side. So as he goes into retirement, I like to carry the mental image of him throwing devils horns around the man cave and making a few live animal sacrices while Slayer blasts over the home stereo. We dont really think hes just going to be sitting there watchign Jeopardy, do we? Gary Graff

Thank.................A1

You.....................A1

for......................A1

Everything........A1

You.....................A1

Will.....................A1

Be.......................A1

Missed...............A1

| SECTION - G PAGE 2 | THE OAKLAND PRESS

Just nuts

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

West Bloomfield man named Planters Customer of the Year

Wins free peanuts for an entire year
Glenn Gilbert loves his peanuts. For years, they have been his go-to snack to help get through long days at work. His employees at The Oakland Press recall being offered this classic snack each time they enter his office. Gilbert, Michigan Cluster Editor for Digital First Media, was nominated by his employees to receive the 2013 Planters Customer of the Year award for his loyal service to the company. After a long voting period, it was decided Gilbert was the winner. With this honor, comes all the peanuts Gilbert could ever want for an entire year, and of course, bragging rights. Gilbert is seen accepting the award with Mr. Peanut (Right).

Starship
From Page 1
Julie Jacobson, who gave everyone the day off to watch Gilberts departure. Crew members recalled how Gilbert had led them through new worlds neverbefore dreamed of or realized. This was especially true of the Twitter that all on the Starship O.P. were required to learn to bring forth an army of followers to protect the Starship O.P.s place in its own galaxy of OHHHHklandcounty. Gilbert led with good example as he multiplied his platoons of followers that now number in the millions. Under Gilberts direction, Starship O.P. crew members also armed themselves with a multitude of other skills such as video, web pages, Syndicaster, blogs, Facebook, Tout, toot, Instagram, embedded codes, URLs, content packages, links, Google documents and Cloud, to name only a few. Just recently, crew members actually achieved the ability to enter the world of CITRIX, where they can create as many children as they wish. Despite all this progress, Gilbert remained relentless in his pursuit

PHOTO CREATED BY SUSAN DZBANSKI

of the ultimate ring of technology that will be the ultimate salvation of the Starship O.P. if not in this Milky Way galaxy, then in the limbo of the Internet. As Gilbert prepared for the Jan. 3 blast off, Sgt. Vicki Arsenault ordered all crew members to bring foodstuffs to help ensure their commander ccould survive the dangerous trip. But as they watched from atop the roof at 48 W. Huron, Arsenault could be heard saying, wait a minute, that looks like Gilbert in a red coat and hat driving a sleigh with eight twittering reindeer. And it was true. His crew heard him call out to each reindeer as he drove out of sight, Take some more touts!

Letter from the Local News Editor...

Glenn was generous to Pontiacs street people. In fact, they got to the point where they would ask him for more money - and hed give it to them! On a more serious note, though, Glenn achieved a goal to get the staff to pay attention to the readers. He organized meetings, inviting readers to come in and share their ideas with the staff. He set up a community board to interact with the staff. He made sure that The Oakland Press had an open door policy for anyone who wanted to be part of the news process. This worked very well except for the night of an election livestream, when a staffer who was admitting people at the front door unwittingly allowed a drunken street person into the newsroom, and he walked onto the set of politicians who were being livecast. Above all, Glenn made sure that The Oakland Press was positioned well for the transition to the digital news age. He made sure that every newsroom employee could post to the web and use a variety of social media tools. We will miss his die-hard enthusiasm for the Detroit Tigers and even more, the Chicago Cubs. Julie Jacobson-Hines

TIME LEFT UNTIL GLENN CAN RELAX:

25,920 minutes 432 hours 18 days

THE OAKLAND PRESS-JULIE JACOBSON

Glenn (right) supports Tim wearing his dunce cap for losing a bet to Jeff over the 2012 Presidential election. GILBERT HISTORY

Michigan editor has surprising, eventful past

I think Glenn made a great contribution to the Pontiac community when he brought together a diverse group of leaders a few years ago to contribute their ideas to solve problems in a series of Roundtable discussions on city and school district issues. Diana Dillaber Murray

2008 election live stream

Staff Reflections
Thanks for all your work here at The Oakland Press and best of everything for your retirement!!
Marvin Goodwin

I will remember fondly that you were the rst to meet my outstretched hand. Fond farewell,
Joe Pas

Major changes came to Heritage Newspapers in August 2012, and the rest of the staff and I could not have managed without Glenns oversight and support during a very difficult time. He gave us a perspective and many suggestions, and was always available to talk. I learned much from him and I always will appreciate his professionalism and his courtesy. With my best regards, Mavis McKinney Farrand To Glenn: After several rejections, I began to doubt whether I could get work in a newsroom. You gave me a chance, and I sincerely thank you for that. However long Im allowed to stay in such a career you provided,

brought a sense of security to me here at the Oakland Press. I will miss you, Glenn. May God bless you and use you in the next phase of your life.
Sincerely, JoAnn Powell

OMANI KICI MNISA

By Charlie Crumm charlie.crumm@oakpress.com @crummc
MONROE Glenn may be older than he

Glenn, We have all beneted from your vision, dedication and insight. Enjoy retirement!
Jeff Payne

Glenn, thanks for your advice and guidance. It meant a lot and will help me in the future. Enjoy retirement. You will be missed.
Drew Ellis

Glenn, I will miss your guidance, our conversations, and your laughter. Enjoy your new journey and the chance to nally relax!! Take care,
Michelle Mills

Now that youre retiring, be sure to stop and smell the owers, and take them home if you want. Enjoy! Kathy Blake You were a champ to take all those phone calls from the cranky Waterford man obsessed with roads. Thank you for that, and wishing you the best in retirement.
Carol Hopkins

I see Glenn as the Rock, the Strong One, the Steady one and all of these qualities of his

Glenn, thank you for all of the opportunities youve given me. I am truly honored to have worked with you. Have a happy retirement!
Nichole Seguin

lets on. The rumor is that Glenn did his rst internship with Ben Franklin, one of the countrys rst publishers, back when orange road construction barrels were empty moonshine jugs full of dizzy reies. Documents in the National Archives also mention a Glenn Gilbert, who may have been a littleknown survivor of the 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn, in which a vastly superior force of Native Americans overwhelmed Monroe, Mich., native George Armstrong Custers cavalry. There we were, three against 5,000, the Gilbert account in the National Archives reads. A man went down on my left. A man went down on my right. Those were the toughest three we fought all day, concluded Gilbert, whose Lakota Sioux name Omani Kici Mnisa (Oh-mah-nee-kee-cheemnee-sha) translates literally to Travels With Wine.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

THE OAKLAND PRESS

| SECTION - G PAGE 3 |
make the decision that would work best. He was always willing to share his insight, said Frye. He opened my eyes to many things in the newspaper business, in management style, in organization, as well as in life. And, as he talked about his retirement, Gilbert gave this advice to the remaining staff to ask themselves the question, where do they want to be in five or 10 years from now. Keep that in the forefront of your minds. If they do that, they will succeed, Gilbert said.

FRYE ON THE NEWS

Online Editor discusses Gilberts influence on him, and newsroom

Stephen Frye, online editor at The Oakland Press, said Glenn Gilbert has taught him much. Besides now knowing that theres no point to bear hunting in northern Michigan and believing in those who stand behind you, I also have learned about the news business and how to appreciate and handle all sorts of feedback from the community, Frye said. Glenn has been masterful in managing the staff we have and printing front pages that engage readers. But our online efforts have been successful because of his vision. He has led our newsrooms into the digital age and guided us into this new world of journalism of letting the audience help tell the stories and participate in the news-gathering process. Despite the challenges of the recent economy and changes to the news industrys business model, Glenn has stayed in front of trends and led us with wisdom, exibility, patience and humor. Meanwhile, at the same time, he has kept us close to our communities.

Ill always owe Glenn, because he gave me a chance when I was in high school and brought me into the newsroom. Since then, Ive watched Glenn show his compassion for the Pontiac community. Hes facilitated roundtable discussions, created reader advisory panels, served on the Committee of 50 and spent countless hours having serious discussions about Oakland County issues. To me, Glenns legacy is that he came to The Oakland Press and made the newspaper a better citizen in its own city. I will miss his mentoring and leadership, and I wish him only the best in retirement although I have the feeling well be hearing more from Glenn.
Dustin Blitchok

Gilbert
From Page 1
an arm of the Greater Pontiac Community Coalition. Oakland Press Online Editor Stephen Frye credited Gilbert with enhancing community engagement through his vision to open up the newsroom to the public, partner with community bloggers and encourage reporters to work with the readers. Frye said he considers Gilbert a mentor and that he is very good at giving advice but allowing you to

Sincere wishes for your enjoyable retirement, said Pontiac Mayor-elect Deirdre Waterman. Ive appreciated, and the Oakland County community has beneted from your insightful often thought-provoking editorial commentary and your guidance of the Oakland Press editorial policy.
Deirdre Waterson, Pontiac Mayor-elect

Glenn, It hasnt always been easy. But your tireless efforts to get us to a Digital First newspaper group has paid off. We are not only here, but have our arms wrapped tightly around it. Thanks for always having our backs! Its been a great run. And did you know, you dont look a day over.....retirement! Sincerely, Vicki Arsenault

NOTE FROM A PAGE DESIGNER

I remember when Glenn called me into his office when I was rst offered a position here at The Oakland Press. The rst question he asked was Where do you see yourself in ve years? I was kind of caught off guard, but I answered it honestly by saying I hoped to still be here designing pages, because I was happy to have a job in design. At the time, I had no idea how much things would change in the next year. After about 6 months working here, I nally got the courage to email Glenn about an idea I had involving digital publishing. I was so nervous. I had no idea if he would even respond, If he would think I was overstepping my boundaries, or if he would just ignore it. To my surprise, he listened to me, and made me feel like my opinion mattered. That was an amazing feeling. Now, after a little over a year at the OP, Glenn has allowed me the opportunity to put my design skills to work in digital publishing, and I could not be more excited. I feel like I have found what I was meant to do, and I owe that to Glenn. I truly believe that to be a good leader, you have to be good listener, and I really want to thank Glenn for listening. His support has changed what I will do in my future, and I am forever grateful. Oh, and Glenn I have a better answer for you now... in 5 years we will have a long list of successful apps, and I hope you will be one of our rst customers when they start rolling out. Who knows, maybe we can make one about Michigan gardening just for you. Enjoy your retirement!

Although I have known Glenn for just a few short years, he has had more impact on my career and family than he could ever imagine. At the beginning of 2013, we found out our 2-year-old daughter had Leukemia. Without Glenns full and consistent support, Im not sure my wife and I would have been able to continue working and taking care of our family. From the start, Glenn made a point to forget about work now and then and ask me about my daughters well being. He will be truly missed and I wish him the best.

Austen Smith

ALOHA, BIG KAHUNA

Staff Reflections
Glenn led us through probably the single most difficult period in our industry. Despite being surrounded by such great employees who were willing to embrace any and all change thrown their way (cough, cough), it could not have been easy. Of course, this digital transformation is not over. But the light is at end of the tunnel, and provided its not a train headed in our direction, Glenn has seen us through some extremely dark times. Steady leadership, a laser focus on the company goals while keeping corporate intervention as minimal as possible - these are what Ill always appreciate about Glenn. And his politics; I like that about him, too. But what I most like about Glenn was he was always willing to let us explore new ideas. They might not work, but to have a manager put that kind of trust into his employees is invigorating.
Rick Kessler, Heritage

Susan Dzbanski

journalism. Youve rewarded initiative, giving opportunities to those who have shown an interest in growing their careers and developing their visual storytelling skills. Youve embraced the open newsroom concept, supported our media labs for training the public, encouraged citizen journalism and put in place the infrastructure for a blogger network across our Michigan footprint. And whats more, youve been in the trenches with us on Twitter, posting to your own blog and writing columns for print and online. I am lucky to have had the opportunity to learn from you and I always will be grateful. Best wishes in your well-deserved retirement.
Michelle Rogers, Community Engagement Director

Good luck and enjoy your retirement. Now, youll have plenty of time to hang out with your brother from another mother Matt Damon!
Rebecca Wall

Glenn, youve been a visionary and a catalyst for change as weve been transitioning from print to digital. I commend you for your leadership in helping to move our journalism forward in the digital age. You have always encouraged experimentation and innovation, and, most recently, supported our foray into data-driven
To me its clear what Glenn Gilberts legacy will be: A boss who was always has his employees backs. Throughout my time working for Glenn, hes always been fair, understanding and appreciative, and recognized when people were doing a great job. He understands what it takes to run a newspaper properly, and gave me the resources I needed to do my job well, and I appreciate that. Ive learned a lot from Glenn about the ins and outs of this business that I will take with me in my journey forward in this ever-changing industry. And just as Glenn showed a strong ability to adapt to this digital age, I look forward to seeing where the future goes from here -- with some of his wisdom stored away to make the journey more successful. Good luck with everything Glenn, and enjoy your retirement. Youve earned it.

Glenn... Congratulations on your many contributions to the newspaper industry over your life-long career! Your impending retirement is well earned...so enjoy every day!!! Best Wishes...
Jan Wick

Goodbye from all of us!

Matt Myftiu, Regional Copy Desk Chief