Business changes bring back memories

About a year ago, I left the business desk of the Deseret News after more than six years as business editor. I was ready for a change, and I have since moved on to new jobs and challenges at the paper.

But the business section still has a special place in my heart.

When I started at the News 10 years ago, I was a business reporter. I eventually became an assistant editor for the section and then served in other capacities around the newsroom before returning as business editor.

Which is why last week's news that the business section was going to be reduced in size and moved inside the A section has been hard for me to take.

I admit that I'm not sad to see the stock page eliminated. I know some readers love having stocks in the paper, and I'm sure they will miss the listings. (At least I don't have to worry about taking those calls!) But there are many options for stock information these days, and the Internet — including the deseretnews.com Web site — is a far more up-to-date source of stock quotes.

Still, losing the stand-alone nature of the section is hard to contemplate. For the editors and reporters who have worked over the years to build the paper's business coverage, it's almost like there's been a death in the family.

And that has me doing some bittersweet reminiscing.

Longtime readers will remember Max Knudson, the wonderful wordsmith who led the section for so many years. No one has turned a phrase on these pages like Max did. He was an excellent reporter, with unparalleled sources, and his quick wit and unique style came through in his prose. His locally produced auto reviews were a Friday highlight for years.

We've missed Max since he retired at the end of 2001. He set the stage for much of what followed.

And what followed was unique in my experience as a newspaper reporter or editor: a period of six years in which the same small group of people worked together on the same section.

Brice Wallace is still on the business desk, covering economic development and other news of the day, all while keeping an eye on local corporations' earnings and activities.

Jenifer Nii, who left in 2007 for a corporate communications job, covered the seemingly never-ending feud between banks and credit unions, among many, many other things.