|
[Back to
Interviews & Articles]
Valvo’s
Reign Enlivened Newspaper
Connecticut
Law Tribune
Monday, March 06, 2006
Copyright 2006, ALM Properties, Inc.
“Good
Night and Good Luck.” With those words Edward R. Murrow would close his
now legendary broadcasts. As a reporter and an editor, Vincent Valvo has
sought to follow the principles which Murrow so ably advanced—the
pursuit of truth and a goal to inform. Murrow’s words seem appropriate
for the Advisory Board to use in expressing its farewell to Valvo as he
leaves The Connecticut Law Tribune and undertakes new challenges as editor
of the Hartford Business Journal.
When he took the reins of The Law Tribune six years ago, the paper lacked
luster, was losing subscribers and advertisers, and had waning influence
in the legal community. Valvo is leaving a rejuvenated newspaper with a
strong editorial staff, and three additional publications (Connecticut
Tech Tribune, Western Massachusetts Law Tribune and GC New England
Magazine). Valvo’s willingness to try to do difficult things is one of
his great strengths.
The relationship between Valvo as publisher and editor in chief and The
Connecticut Law Tribune Advisory Board has been flexible and rarely
contentious. He has always expressed his right to determine which of our
“Advice of Counsel” opinions would run and has not hesitated to
express his disagreement with our opinions. However, he has never
“censored” or failed to print any of the opinions which the Board has
submitted for publication.
At our in-person meetings every two months, he has reported on changes in
policy and direction and he has solicited our opinions and suggestions. We
have occasionally and freely expressed our concerns and displeasure with
bombastic editorials and articles which were seemingly overly critical of
the Judicial Branch.
When it became apparent Gov. John Rowland would bypass Justice David
Borden to fill the position of Chief Justice, Valvo honored our concerns
by publishing our editorial criticism on the front page—a very unusual
action. He did so, although he knew it was likely to produce rancor in the
relationship with the anticipated appointee and the governor. He has been
a staunch and highly verbal proponent of the public right to know and of
the freedom of his columnists to express their opinions (over our
objections on occasion).
There can be little doubt that Valvo has a flair for being an impresario.
He has arranged and presided over affairs such as the annual New Leaders
of the Law Awards dinner, and the dinner for the presentation of the
annual awards for outstanding service to the bar, for pro bono service,
and the publisher’s award for service in support of freedom of
information. He has conducted an almost messianic campaign for opening the
files in the “secret” cases and on the issue of the possible conflict
of the Chief Justice.
From our standpoint, he has broadened the segments of the bar which the
Board members represent and has encouraged us to take the lead in
advocating and defending proposals for change in the justice system.
There are some members of the bar who believe the members of the Advisory
Board have sold our souls to the devil—but Valvo is no devil and we are
not Faust. The discussions on draft Advice of Counsel opinions and
proposed Tribune policies during our in-person meetings and numerous
telephone conference are often extended. The excellent cuisine and fine
wines provided at our meetings do not generate “love feasts,” but whet
our appetites for robust debate of principles and editorial issues, at
times well into the late evening.
And so we say to Valvo, “goodbye and good luck,” and we hope we will
have the opportunity to work with him in some future endeavors.
Commentaries appearing as Advice of Counsel are produced by the
Advisory Board of The Connecticut Law Tribune. The opinions are voted on
and passed by at least one third of the members of the board. They do not
necessarily reflect the opinions of every member of the board, nor of the
newspaper
Back
to Top
|