Democrat-Gazette loses a good one

The Arkansas news industry is losing a good one today. Laura Kellams, Northwest Capital Bureau reporter for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, is leaving today for another position after being with the paper 11 years. I first met Laura at the University of Arkansas when she covered the Associated Student Government for the Arkansas Traveler.

I can imagine reporters and newsmen don't like to be blogged about, and I don't particularly like blogging about them for the same reason. I'm sure it makes them feel like their impartiality is scrutinized when the public sees them getting praise from an elected official. Still, I'm willing to make an exception here. Laura was tough in negotiating details out of her interviewees, yet she was fair. I can't think of two better characteristics of a good journalist.