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The Tri-Valley community suffered a profound loss with the passing of Jeb Bing, and I have a heaviness in my heart that I can’t quite put into words.
Jeb, the founding editor of the Pleasanton Weekly newspaper, left a legacy.
The Pleasanton Weekly, the annual Holiday Fund donation campaign and, well, the entire East Bay division of Embarcadero Media Foundation — including DanvilleSanRamon.com — stand as a testament to his tireless efforts and deep dedication.
Jeb and I were generations apart, but we connected through a shared commitment to local journalism.
I remain in my role as president and publisher of the division after 19 years at the helm because, like Jeb, I understand that fact-based local journalism is vital to a community and its residents.
And I know the reporting readers have come to expect from us is not inexpensive.
Our most impactful reporting depends on thorough, time-intensive investigation. For example, it took three years, several public records requests and long days in court for our journalist to report on the former San Ramon Valley Unified School District teacher and cheer coach Nicholas Moseby, who was recently sentenced to three-plus years in prison for sexual abuse of teens.
Jeb was instrumental in expanding local journalism in the Tri-Valley with the launch of the Danville Weekly, sister newspaper of the Pleasanton Weekly, in 2005.
Unfortunately, in 2009, the economic downturn forced us to take the Danville Weekly out of print. While we were able to continue online reporting on Danville, and added coverage of San Ramon, Danville Weekly readers were devastated. A few lambasted us because, as one person put it, we “took away one of the best things to happen to Danville without warning”.
Without warning.
I learned a valuable lesson, and I won’t make that mistake again.
Beyond sustaining current staffing of the division –- which costs tens of thousands of dollars –- we aim to strengthen and expand our journalism.
We also want to continue our annual Holiday Fund campaign, which Jeb launched in 2002. He was very proud of the way the community came together every year to support Tri-Valley nonprofits and was the program lead (and primary cheerleader) from 2002 until 2017, when he retired.
Thanks to our advertisers and financial support from readers, we can carry out our mission to promote transparency, accountability and the public’s right to know through fact-based journalism.
Tax-deductible contributions of any amount at any time are truly appreciated. Considering the misuse of AI that is already occurring and the number of public relations professionals outnumber journalists six to one, the need is never greater than now.
I’m honored to have worked alongside Jeb, with his dry sense of humor, easy smile and keen journalist instincts. He had a huge impact on my life, and will be forever grateful for our friendship.
I’m dedicated to honoring his memory and doing what I can to continue his legacy.
