Why I came to Memphis and The Commercial Appeal Mike Jung, the new president of The Commercial Appeal, comes to Memphis from The News-Press in Florida.

Michael Jung | President

Show Caption Hide Caption Michael Jung - 'I found myself falling in love with Memphis.' The Commercial Appeal named Michael Jung as the new president of the 176-year-old newspaper.

I didn't come to Memphis because it’s going to be easy. In fact, I could have stayed at The News-Press in sunny Fort Myers, where the population is growing and construction is on the rise.

So why? Maybe it was that first weekend in Memphis when I ran along Riverside Drive, crossed the Mississippi at Big River Crossing, discovered Shelby Farms Park and spent an afternoon at the National Civil Rights Museum.

Or maybe it was that first week at The Commercial Appeal when a new strategy and new organization was announced which affected many employees. It would have been easy to think about my return to Fort Myers in six or seven weeks, but I didn’t.

Over the course of the next month and a half, I would get to know the dedicated and talented team at The CA. I met a number of you, business and civic leaders who offered honest, sometimes critical feedback regarding the paper. Despite our brutally candid conversations, all of them ended with a common theme, “Memphis wants The Commercial Appeal to do well. We need a great paper.”

Well, thank you, that gave me hope.

I am here in Memphis because of the possibilities. In seven weeks, I have experienced a city with great pride and at the same time, one that also feels dismissed or undervalued. A city with historic roots but with a less certain future.

There are parallels to the city of Memphis and to The CA. I said to my team last week when my appointment was announced, "Honor our rich past, be in the present and imagine what our future will be.”

The CA will be a reflection of the community. We will shine a spotlight, be a watchdog for the community and provide a voice to those that do not have one.

I'm also pleased that The Jackson Sun is part of my new responsibilities and we will continue to leverage our resources and provide a better experience for readers and advertisers.

We will listen to you, convene the community, be a catalyst for change and lead from the front.

My goal is simple: Strengthen communities and help local businesses grow.

If we accomplish that, our communities will thrive.

Speaking of leading, The CA, along with partners, is involved with some significant events and I invite you to participate:

An Opioid Epidemic Forum at 6 p.m. Tuesday June 6 at the UT Health Science Center Student Activity Center. The forum is supported by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee and UTHSC. To participate in this free event, go to forum.commercialappeal.com and register.

The Commercial Appeal Sports Awards at 7 p.m. Friday June 9 at the Orpheum Theater. The event will celebrate student achievement by recognizing more than 250 student athletes. Football legend Archie Manning headlines this event. Tickets range from $13 to $23. For tickets, go to sportsawards.commercialappeal.com

I also have some great news for non-profit organizations that work tirelessly to improve our community. The Commercial Appeal is now part of the Gannett Foundation Community Grants Program. This year, we will award $30,000 in grants to local community organizations. Look for more information online and in the paper or go to gannettfoundation.org

On a personal note, my father is a retired electrician, which is ironic since I have no mechanical skills. I believe in giving back and engaging with the community. I have a passion for education and a healthy community, having served on the boards of United Way, The Community Foundation and The Food Bank in Fort Myers. And, in Memphis, I intend to roll up my sleeves to help get the work done.

My three grown children are working and living in San Francisco, and my 89-year-old father still drives and plays golf three times a week. My significant other, Mary, will stay in Fort Myers because of her job and she will be making frequent trips to visit Memphis.

Lastly, I want to hear from you. Mark Russell, interim executive editor of The CA, and I welcome your comments. You can do that in three ways: Contact us at President@commercialappeal.com or mark.russell@commercialappeal.com, attend a news meeting at The CA, weekdays at 8:30 a.m. or attend an upcoming listening session which will be announced soon.

It’s not going to be easy in Memphis but it is going to be satisfying and exciting to be part of something special.

Michael Jung is president of The Commercial Appeal and The Jackson Sun. Find him on Twitter @michaeldjung.