JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Clarion Ledger Outdoors Columnist Bobby Cleveland had his last column appear in the newspaper this past Sunday. Just like his brother Rick, the former sports editor, Bobby decided it was time to retire.
Bobby Cleveland has been Outdoors Editor at the Clarion Ledger for 28 years. He took advantage of an offer by the Gannett Corporation, which owns the newspaper, to allow employees with 20 years of service who are over 55 years of age, to retire with a year's pay and benefits.
It was not really something Bobby wanted to do but he found the deal too good to turn down in these uncertain times about the future of newspapers.
"Well, it's not necessarily the time I would have chosen to get out from newspapers" said Bobby Cleveland. "But ah, with what newspapers are becoming and the way the industry is changing, I am not sure I wanted to be a part of that either. So now they gave me an opportunity to do something else and I took it."
Cleveland has a unique ability to write so clearly about outdoors issues, that non outdoor people are interested in reading his columns. He is confident he will find a place on the Internet or elsewhere to continue doing what he loves most and thoroughly enjoys doing.
"Some magazine offers" said Cleveland. "I am writing for magazines and I am investigating having my own web site, that promotes Mississippi outdoors. I have some other opportunities I am looking into, I just haven't developed yet. So, I think there is a big market to read about outdoors in Mississippi."
Cleveland says he can't believe that he got paid for doing what he loves to do most, for all these years.
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