2009.07.09
Jeff White leaving UVa beat
Jeff gave his two week's notice to The Richmond Times-Dispatch on Thursday and will be going to work for the University of Virginia, where he will write for virginiasports.com, UVa's sports Web site.
He will be reporting not to UVa's media relations department but to the athletic department, where senior associate athletic director Jon Oliver will be one of his bosses.
Jeff is a UVa graduate (mid-1980s) who began his 21-year Richmond newspapers tenure as a prep writer for the afternoon News-Leader, then moved to the Times-Dispatch when the papers merged.
I met him during the period in the early 1990s when he covered the UVa women's basketball team in the postseason. He has been the UVa football beat writer throughout the eight-year Al Groh football coaching tenure.
During most of his time on the UVa beat, Jeff has lived in Crozet.
Jeff is a good friend and worthy competitor who told me in the past 2-3 years that he might be gone from the Times-Dispatch within a year. It's likely that the Times-Dispatch's decision not to cover Virginia in the College World Series -- a decision in which it was not alone -- hastened that departure.
Doug - the RTD has lost another top-notch reporter, and more important, a top-notch person. Jeff always has been one of the RTD's best beat reporters. He will be sorely missed here in Richmond.
Comment by Sean — July 9, 2009 @ 2:55 pm
The RTD has fast dropped from a good regional newspaper to become a local paper that imports its news from national sources. At one time, with guys like Markon and White, the RTD had some of the best writers in the state. (Sorry, Doug.) you'll have to assume that role from Roanoake, Doug.
Comment by Bruce Milam — July 9, 2009 @ 5:10 pm
"The RTD has fast dropped from a good regional newspaper to become a local paper that imports its news from national sources."
Couldn't you say the say about The Roanoke Times?
Comment by paperreader — July 9, 2009 @ 5:26 pm
I've also noticed over the past several years that the Sports section of the RTD has taken a decidedly Tech slant. In fact, Slater and Kolenich have become real homers for the Hokies, which is a little strange since Richmond is nowhere near Blacksburg. Even Randy King is more objective than they are, and he's right in Tech's backyard. It wouldn't surprise me if the RTD follows the example of the Virginian-Pilot and just starts publishing your stories, Doug, rather than assigning a beat reporter.
Comment by Doug Miller — July 9, 2009 @ 6:00 pm
While we hate to see Jeff leave, at least he is staying in a role that will allow him to write about UVa sports.
Comment by Zirkle Blakey — July 10, 2009 @ 11:20 am
you opened your own door with this one Doug. Go for it!
Comment by watchdog — July 10, 2009 @ 5:36 pm
I'd like to see Media General sell the Charlottesville Daily Progress and the Richmond Times-Dispatch to another company!
For one thing, for years they've been unable to deliver them to me regularly!
Comment by Nelson — July 10, 2009 @ 11:27 pm
No need for all you UVers to worry, the Roanoke Times covers UVA in more...much more...than adequate fashion. I, for one, am sick to death of it and cannot wait for Mr. King to get back to work.
Comment by Perch — July 12, 2009 @ 2:25 pm
Go Jeff! Nice you can cover what you want to cover.
Comment by Jack Wilkerson — July 22, 2009 @ 6:57 pm