'Charlotte Observer' Names Thames Editor

Posted Monday, June 7, 2004 12:00 am

By: E&P Staff Charlotte Observer Publisher Peter Ridder announced that Rick Thames will be the new vice president/editor of the North Carolina newspaper, beginning in July. He replaces Jennie Buckner who announced her retirement effective July 2.

Thames has been editor of The Wichita Eagle in Kansas since 1997, but is a native of North Carolina. He started in 1978 as a reporter at The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. Thames worked at the Miami News from 1980 to 1988 and then joined The Charlotte Observer (Click for QuikCap) where he served as city editor, assistant managing editor and public editor before moving to Wichita.

An article on the Eagle Web site says that at the paper, Thames "has emphasized timely and reader-focused news coverage, as well as a renewed focus on public service journalism."

Jennie Buckner retires after 11 years as editor at the Observer and 35 years with Knight Ridder.

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'Charlotte Observer' Names Thames Editor

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