A bright future that's just beginning

It’s a reality in the community newspaper world.

Sometimes you make a home-run hire, a young, smart, tough, hard-working journalist who brings skill and tenacity beyond relatively tender years to one of the world’s most challenging jobs.

About a year and a half ago, while undergoing treatment for stage 4 cancer, the guy who’s writing this editorial hit one out of the ballpark. He hired a rookie named Madison Hardy.

You know her even if you’ve never met her. Her byline greets you often - usually from the front page, and often more than once a day.

Still well shy of 25 years old, the University of Idaho broadcast journalism grad possesses something that we ancient, ink-stained wretches still hold dear: Good old-fashioned elbow grease. Work ethic that would make any employer not just proud, but sometimes in awe.

That’s Madison. And even though she’s worthy of an editorial any day of the week, the reason we’re laying this one on you today is because…

…Sorry. Tissue timeout.

Because tomorrow is Madison’s last day in CDA. She’s following her heart and her original journalistic instincts to Boise, where her face will become as familiar to TV news viewers as her byline has been to you.

In wishing her the best and knowing she’ll exceed our greatest hopes for her, we’ll share the biggest reason we know she’ll accomplish amazing things in the years ahead. Madison Hardy is the rare journalist who, through a profound sense of fairness and an elevated level of skill, has inspired the confidence of sources across the political spectrum.

Legislators from the far right and the far - wait a second; there are no Idaho legislators on the far left - legislators from somewhat diverse political viewpoints return Madison’s calls. So do local politicians not named Banducci, Barnes or McKenzie. So do statewide leaders and even national sources. Madison has earned what every journalist covets but not all earn: Respect.

We would not drop this chunk of coal into your stocking without also tucking something cheerful under your tree. And what could possibly be more cheerful than former Press reporter Devin Weeks coming back into the fold, just in time to hug Madison goodbye tomorrow and reacquaint herself with all of you?

The entire Coeur d’Alene Press family wishes Madison great adventures and boundless journalistic joy in the years ahead. And we close today’s editorial on this high note:

Don’t be terribly surprised if somewhere down the road, Madison Hardy returns to a city she has come to love and occupies the editor’s chair.

It's OK to pray for that day arriving sooner than later.