A last note from web ed

Today is my last day as this site's "web ed". After four years, I am moving on.

Its been a rollicking and intense roller-coaster four years, and some of the best part of it has been sharing the ride with you, the readers. I thank you for your all of your support, your participation - and even the constructive criticism! I've learned from all of it, and from all of you.

Please give a warm welcome to reporter Henry Lopez as he steps in as your new "web ed". Coming from the newsroom, I anticipate he'll ramp up the integration process of print to web - and I'm sure he'll have an increasing array of fresh ideas as he settles in.

He'll also bring a much - needed fresh presence to comments and community. While I've been a fierce advocate of reader engagement, I don't think its a secret to any of us that my ability to effectively moderate has eroded somewhat in the past few months. Still, all of you have been pretty understanding, so I hope you'll extend the same patience, support and respect to Henry as he gets underway. I'm also looking forward to joining you on "the other side" as an occasional commentor now!

As an aside regarding comments, the numbers are pretty impressive - and the site is approaching a big milestone: from April 28, 2004 to date, we have logged 196,896 comments, so the big 200,000 marker is not far off. Chats, incidentally, add an additional 29, 202 to the tally, so in that sense , you've passed the mark already.

I'd like to thank the New Mexican for the opportunities and experiences it has afforded me, and particularly to those individuals most closely involved with the web for so many of these years: Michael Odza, Zeke Ricci, Ruben Vasquez, and Shirl Steward and all the indefatigable night production crew members past and present.

Collectively, the online team effort garnered First Place - Best Newspaper Site for New Mexico, 2003, 2004, 2005, Associated Press Managing Editors, and
First Place - Best Newspaper Site for New Mexico, 2003, 2005, New Mexico Press Association, as well as being the first newspaper website in New Mexico to open up an online dialogue with readers, implement RSS feeds, utlilize video, and experiment with podcasting and early wireless applications.

It's an honor to have been a little part of that.

Even as I look back, I know Henry now will take it fully forward, and I'm intrigued to see what he will develop!

My own path forward involves a relocation to Albuquerque in a closely-related field for a position with a more strategic focus. I will continue to maintain The New Media in New Mexico blog , which will have a more frequent posting schedule and a more comparative outlook. The Bollywood/South Asian sociocultural affairs blog will soon be migrated to this new location, and of course, my musical happenings are still documented here.

My best to everyone at The New Mexican, and especially to all of you, the online readership.

carry Joy - build Hope - offer Love

Stefan Dill, former web ed