Jackson Free Press

They say that during the holidays, you're supposed to stop and consider what you're thankful for. (OK, this is starting out cheesy, I know. Work with me here.) Combine that seasonal desire with the fact that Donna assigned me the Publisher's Note this week, and you get what you paid for—a Publisher's Note in which I offer up a laundry list of the things that have me smiling this season.

And just so you don't think I've gone totally soft (or I'm completely boozed up on Jack Daniels eggnog), there are at least three digs at The Clarion-Ledger, but you'll have to read closely to find them. Hold on.

First, some of that JFP backslapping you've come to know me for. (Hey—it's my job!) I'm thankful that more people than ever are reading the Jackson Free Press. According to our 2005 reader survey, our adult readership in the Jackson Metro went up to nearly 40,000 people, an increase of nearly 20 percent in the past year. Last year was our first full year of weekly publication, so we figure more readers than ever are getting into the groove and picking us up regularly, for which I'm very thankful. And that 40,000 number doesn't even include the papers we send to Vicksburg, college towns and out-of-town for subscriptions.

(I'm also, of course, thankful that we aren't a daily paper, as the industry trend is that our circulation would be going down, and we'd have to resort to desperate measures … like "forced circulation" by throwing papers at every house in Northeast Jackson whether they want them or not. Ahem.)

I'm also thankful that we were able to transition our Web site to a new server with reasonably few headaches, as well as transferring the Lounge List e-mail newsletter to a more robust e-newsletter software system. If you aren't currently on the Lounge List, then you aren't "getting it a few times a week"—our e-newsletter, that is, with full music listings and the events for the week in Jackson and surrounding communities.

I'm thrilled by all of the events we've been able to support and sponsor—and all of the claims that "Jackson has virtually no nightlife" that we've been able to refute (just check out the pages of this issue, and keep an eye out as New Year's approaches). Yes, Jackson's nightlife is a work in progress, but music, nightlife, arts and culture in this town are in a constant march forward, as evidenced by everything from the success of "The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till" in this town (with the Q&As, panel discussions and after-parties), along with events such as Fondren Unwrapped, Chimneyville and shows like Gretchen Wilson and the upcoming Default/Bif Naked show we get to promote. As the JFP looks forward to 2006, we're excited to be a strong supporter of arts and culture events in Jackson, as well as your guide to who is playing out and where to stop in for a quick drink and good company.

I love Christmas music—particularly martini-soaked standards—which means I am, by definition, a perfect fit for hosting a holiday karaoke lounge. And even if I'm not, the fact is that Donna and I will be doing just that at what is becoming a traditional holiday karaoke gathering at Hal and Mal's this Friday, the 9th, starting about 9 p.m. (or as soon after 9 as I've had a strong enough drink to work up the courage). If I have my way, I'll get some ringers up to the microphone, and it'll be a night of (reasonably) high-quality entertainment.

Speaking of Hal and Mal's, the Red Room is the location of another important gathering on Saturday the 10th—Casey Parks' going-away party. Casey is leaving the JFP (and, er, Jackson, but … hey … first things first) to attend graduate school at the University of Missouri. It makes sense—Missouri is widely considered one of the best grad schools in the country for print journalists, and Casey is destined to give them a run for their money. But we'll miss her around here—I was very thankful to have had her on staff, and to know that she'll still be filing the occasional story. And Donna is in mourning.

Come on out Saturday to pay your respects—at Casey's request, it's a dance party, and it'll feature celebrity DJ Donna Ladd along with Stephen Barnette. (And a Casey Parks Look-alike Contest.)

On a local note, I'm thrilled that Jackson has dropped from the 14th "most dangerous city" in America to the 28th "most dangerous city" in America according to the Morgan-Quitno rankings based on 2004 FBI crime stats. And I'm overjoyed that The Clarion-Ledger hasn't reported that fact as of this writing, if only because it helps me make my case that The Clarion-Ledger has abdicated its journalistic responsibility to avoid sensationalizing crime in Jackson. By this time last year, we'd already gotten Eric Stringfellow's now-legendary "Chief Crows Too Early on Jackson's Crime Stats" piece. Where's this year's piece, Eric?

And finally, on a serious note, I'm thankful for U.S. Rep. John Murtha, who, as a veteran Marine and decorated veteran of Vietnam, has stepped in front of the Bush administration's PR bullets and forced a dialogue on the issue of how and when we will redeploy in Iraq.

Although the administration began by trying to assassinate his character (the White House Press Secretary compared him to filmmaker Michael Moore during the official press gaggle), it became clear that strategy wasn't working. When George W. Bush finally acknowledged that Americans have "every right to voice their dissent," it was an important step from this administration, which has been high-handed with people who don't agree with them in the past.

The new year, it seems, may finally bring an intelligent debate on the future of the Iraq war and how we can best bring our troops home safely and intelligently.

That was a big one on my list.