Dana Yost, editor

If you look up the word “editor” in the dictionary, you’ll see a photo of Dana Yost. At least in my dictionary. Yost has taken an indefinite leave as editor of the Independent. It is a great loss to the newsroom. I don’t know how he did it all these years. Editing, writing stories, columns, editorials, taking phone calls and being constantly interrupted by reporters asking questions. His fingers would fly across the keyboard, writing blogs, answering e-mails and the phone would ring and he would patiently and kindly take the call as well as respond to each reporter. He never brought his personal troubles to work and never snapped at employees or the public. That shows a lot of patience and self-control. As well as being a great writer and great editor, he was a great boss. He kept track of his employees’ annual review times, taught us Associated Press style rules and let the reporters go off on silly tangents during staff meetings. There used to be three editors at the Independent and that worked out better — it wasn’t such a strain and long hours for the editors. It’s a tough job and not everyone can do it. But he did it well and I wish him well.