Goodbye Chicago, Hellooooo New York

By Rachelle Bowden in News on Jan 7, 2005 1:19PM

Michael Cooke, the editor in chief of the Chicago Sun-Times has resigned after 5 years. He's leaving to take the same position with the New York Daily News.

Rumors have been flying for days, but today they were confirmed when Cooke announced in an email to Sun-Times employees that he'll take over as editor in chief of the Daily News in February. Cooke will fill the job left open when Edward Kosner retired from the Daily News in October 2003.

Cooke was named editor of the Sun-Times in 2000. When John Cruickshank was promoted to publisher in 2004, Cooke was given sole control over the newspaper's editoral department.

Below is the text of Cooke's memo to his employees, obtained via the Romenesko site at the Poynter Institute:

1/6/2005 3:16:40 PM

To everyone:

I am now going to reveal the most closely-guarded secret in Chicago journalism: I am leaving the Sun-Times.

I am going as Editor-in-Chief to the New York Daily News, and will start there next month.

While I am no stranger to false modesty, let me tell you this: I know why I have been given this opportunity. Mort Zuckerman, owner of the Daily News, told me straight out he was truly impressed by the quality of the local journalism we have in our paper (he particularly mentioned the investigative series of the past year), by the quality of our writing, and by the energetic and imaginative way our paper is put together.

And for that, I thank all of YOU. I am deeply appreciative. Chicago has been wonderful to me. And, like you, I have a love for the Sun-Times.

The drinks will be on me.

Well no, actually I hope they'll be on my friend and boss, John Cruickshank.

See you there, venue t.b.a.