Standard-Times Editor and Associate Publisher Bob Unger will step down from his position on Jan. 6.

Bob Unger will step down from his position as editor and associate publisher of SouthCoast Media Group, which includes The Standard-Times, on Jan. 6.

“Bob’s had such a tremendous, positive influence on SouthCoast Media Group and our community that I can hardly believe that his departure is imminent,” Publisher and President Peter Meyer said in an email to staff announcing Unger’s departure.

Unger said the decision to leave was strictly his and primarily was the result of tightening finances.

“We’re looking at a tough year, revenue-wise, coming up,” Unger said. At this time, “it would have been very damaging to the newspaper and the community to make the additional personnel cuts that would have been required.

“I asked and received permission to put my position on the layoff list,” he said. “My hope is that by doing this the newspaper will continue to best serve New Bedford and SouthCoast. It will allow us to fill important jobs in gathering and editing the news.”

“Bob is passionate about leading the Standard-Times newsroom, influencing this community in a positive way through thoughtful insight, and coaching his staff to new heights, yet he sees this as the right time to pass the reins to a well-prepared team fully committed to serving the community,” Meyer said.

“My plan is to look inside SCMG for our next editor and that process will begin immediately,” Meyer said, adding that he hopes to have someone in place by the time Unger leaves. The new editor will not also be associate publisher, Meyer said.

Unger, 63, was named editor in 2005 and promoted to associate publisher in 2010, overseeing the daily newspaper, a news website (SouthCoastToday.com), five weekly newspapers and a monthly business magazine. He previously edited newspapers in Pennsylvania, Illinois and Missouri.

Unger said he’s not sure what he’ll do next, other than “to continue to serve my community and this region. … Other than that, I’m not sure. I’ll take a little time.”

In his email, Meyer cited a long list of issues in which Unger and the newspaper have influenced important policy issues in the area, including his advocacy for fluoridation to confront the community’s pediatric dental health problems; his “compassionate treatment of Central American immigrants” following the arrest of 361 workers at the Michael Bianco plant; and “a five-year effort to improve public education, which resulted in the community electing a pro-ed reform mayor and the hiring of a new superintendent to direct the turnaround of New Bedford public schools.”

That’s the work Unger said he’s most proud of. “No institution in this city has devoted more time and energy to improving the public schools,” he said. “At times, we've taken positions that were less than universally popular. We've stood our ground and we've been right.”

Unger also co-founded the SouthCoast Alliance eight years ago, “which has helped this region exert political clout by convincing candidates for statewide, national and regional office to debate SouthCoast issues here,” Meyer said.

“His efforts led to Standard-Times being named by NENPA Newspaper of the Year three times, Distinguished Newspaper twice and winning Website of the Year honors three times,” Meyer said. “Despite all these accomplishments, his lasting legacy may be his compassionate advocacy for the Neediest Family Fund and launching the Soup Bowl Supper fundraiser, now in its fifth year.”