TRIBUTES have been paid to a journalist, lecturer, writer and local historian whose career took him to Fleet Street and back.
Jon Smith, from Barningham, died peacefully with his family by his side on Sunday, September 3. He was 77.
As well as a distinguished newsroom career, Mr Smith also helped to hone the skills of future generations of journalists during his time as a lecturer at Darlington School of Journalism.
After studying at the London School of Economics, Mr Smith began his career at the Shields Gazette, in South Shields, before taking up a post with The Times, in London.
He returned to the region and to The Northern Echo and towards the end of his career he even took the helm at the Mercury, providing cover for editor Jim McTaggart.
Among many career highlights, during his first post Mr Smith interviewed Martin Luther King Jr during his visit to receive an honorary degree at Newcastle University.
Newcastle University was the only British institution to award him an honorary degree and the only place in Britain that Martin Luther King visited outside of London.
Later, Mr Smith was invited to No 10 as recognition of his work to meet the Prime Minister.
He was also asked, and subsequently wrote, Essential Reporting: The NCTJ Guide for Trainee Journalists.
Mr Smith created and set quizzes for national and local newspapers, including the famous Northern Echo Quests, in which hidden clues and prizes were to be found.
One year the clues led the participants to Hamsterley Forest and it was so popular the Forestry Commission complained to The Northern Echo about so many people digging parts of it up in search of the prize.
In later life, Mr Smith wrote prolific amounts on local history and his last publication was Snowden, a murder mystery set in Barnard Castle.
He is survived by daughter, Helen, to his second wife, Joan, who was also a fine journalist and a son, Jay, to his surviving wife.
He also raised four others along the way, who he loved as his own – Richard, Elizabeth, Vic and Sarah – and who loved him and were so proud of him.
Peter Barron, former editor of The Northern Echo, joined the paper as a trainee in 1984, working under Mr Smith, who was chief sub editor.
He said: “Jon was a brilliant man, a good journalist and a real stickler for doing things the right way.
“He had an incredible brain and was a huge influence on every young reporter because he taught us about getting it right.
“He was quite formidable and scary but he really taught you well.
“He once scolded me for a story intro and said if I ever did it again, he would hit me around the head – and in 40 years of knowing John, I never did it again.”
Sue Campbell, a former Teesdale Mercury board member, added: “I first met Jon when he was chief sub at The Northern Echo and we became firm friends.
“He and I met again at Darlington College in 1989 as lecturers in the renowned School of Journalism.
“He was an exceptional journalism trainer, beloved of his students and held in high esteem by his colleagues.
“He cared hugely about standards in journalism and about his community. He will be sadly missed.”
David Croom, production manager at the Mercury, recalled his stints with the paper.
“Jon was the Mercury’s occasional editor throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.
“He stood in for the permanent editor Jim McTaggart when he took his annual holiday to Scarborough.
“Jon was usually on holiday from his permanent job as a tutor of journalism in Darlington when he guest edited at the Mercury.
“He quite often arrived with an entourage of young students who he had invited to come and see the job of an editor outside of the classroom and in a practical environment and their respect for him was obvious as they hung on his every word.
“At the end of his two weeks he would suggest that we all decamp to the pub, which was typical of Jon and unusual for us – but it was a fitting end to our time spent in Jon’s company.”
Mr Smith's funeral is on September 21, 10.30am, at Barningham church (DL11 7DU) followed afterwards by a celebration of his life after at Barningham Village Hall. All are welcome. He has requested no-one wears black to the funeral.
Donations are requested for British Heart Foundation at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jonsmithmemory.
