I suppose I shouldn’t be too worried about being a rumor mongerer, since this rumor is now a few days old and is all over the music blogs and message boards in DFW-Denton. Jonanna Widner, who took over the post as music editor for the Dallas Observer is following in the footsteps of the previous editor Sam Machkovitch by getting herself unceremoniously removed from the position.

Having been in the music community in North Texas for a quarter century , I have the typical love/hate relationship with the press. There is no doubt , however, that the music editor at the Observer has had a uniquely influential position, and the rapid pace of turnover has not been good for the music scene here.

One hopes that the next person to fill the spot is given the time, and has the fortitude to do an often thankless job that can make a big difference to the vitality of the local music community. For my part, I thank Sam, Jonanna and an ever lengthening list of former editors who had a passion for our local music scene.