Archive: Opinions

Wednesday's news that Lee Rayburn and The Morning Newswatch were departed from the local air waves was sad news for the Tompkins County community.  A bastion of local news and talk, Morning Newswatch was also a haven for local organizations, politicians, musicians, and artists to reach out to the community and talk about what local people care about.

Lee is a gentle and generous interviewer putting people at ease and helping them sound their best.  Both Karen (my other half, personally and at the Lansing Star) and I both appeared on his show numerous times, and his genuine warmth and enthusiasm for what we do was evident each time.  He made on-air interviews fun, even for people who were nervous about speaking on the radio, making sure all the points a guest wanted to touch on were covered.  He had a way of putting folks at ease.

That's not to say he didn't have his own point of view, and he certainly wasn't shy about sharing it.  That spurred more conversation about local issues, which is the whole point, isn't it?  He was also a welcome presence at local events, regularly hosting 'talkbacks' at the Kitchen Theatre Company, among others.


When Lee tweeted that his job has been eliminated.  His post was characteristically upbeat and gracious, with great praise for his colleagues at Cayuga Radio Group, and humble appreciation for the community and his opportunity to serve it.  He also posted on Facebook, where, less than 24 hours later 168 people had reacted, and 152 replied, mourning his on-air loss to the community.  Tompkins County Legislator Mike Sigler paid tribute to Rayburn at this week's Lansing Town Board meeting, calling his leaving "a giant loss to the community".

When I first moved to Lansing 30 years or more ago, Morning Newswatch was one of the key things that made me feel connected to the community, and it was long the bastion of local programming and talk.  That didn't change over the years as different hosts took to the microphone (one of whom, Casey Stevens, is now sharing his 'Thoughts' each week in the Lansing Star).  Lee was an informed cheerleader for the community, always facilitating his guests by helping them put their best foot forward with intelligent conversation and a positive outlook on the many things that make Ithaca and the wider Tompkins/Cortland community unique and attractive.

The Lansing Star has long had a wonderful working relationship with Cayuga Radio Group, and continues to do so.  That isn't changing.  Yesterday Cayuga Radio Group President Chet Osadchey told me that the move is not a strategy to move WHCU away from local programming.  To the contrary, he said it is simply time for the station to present local content in a different way.  I am glad for that.  As national media take over local outlets, our community and all communities need the local outlook that makes each community unique.

"In the future we're looking forward to taking exactly that philosophy and being able to expand it," Chet told me. "It may sound a little different. It might look a little different. But that is absolutely our goal."

But I will miss Lee, because he made it amazing, intelligent, spirited, and fun.  His voice will certainly be greatly missed.

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