The news media industry is often focused on the people in the spotlight, but the contributions of those behind the scenes are immeasurable. In newsrooms across the country, editors carry heavy responsibilities. They lead the newsroom, determine what stories should be told and challenge assertions with unwavering commitment to the public’s interest. Their insight, experience and leadership are indispensable and elevate journalism to new heights. Despite not being as celebrated as bylined reporters or columnists, their invaluable contributions cannot be overlooked.
Through 2010, Editor & Publisher saluted an “Editor of the Year.” Beginning in 2022, we decided to celebrate the editors’ contributions to news media again, and we’ve found many are deserving. We hope you enjoy meeting this exemplary group of E&P’s 2025 Editors Extraordinaire.
(Alphabetically, by last name)
Angela Kuper Copeland
Editor, The Paper, Morganton, North Carolina
Education: Bachelor of Arts in journalism, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama; Master of Arts in teaching with an English emphasis, Troy University, Troy, Alabama
Number of years in news media: 10 years in news media; an additional 10 years in community relations and public information
What advice do you have for other professionals aspiring to become an editor extraordinaire?
My advice to young journalists always begins by encouraging them to follow their curiosity. Notice the world around them. Look for patterns. Question why things are the way they are. Help your fellow reporters and lean on them when you need support. Becoming a great editor begins with being a great reporter.
What was something you’ve published that truly surprised you with how your audience received it?
When we published special sections focusing on Hurricane Helene and how the storm was impacting Western North Carolina, I knew the information we shared was critical at the moment. What I am surprised by, however, is that the community continues to thank us six months later for making the content free to read.
Grace Dickens
Editor II, Community Impact, Austin, TX
Education: Bachelor of Journalism and Bachelor of Arts in geography, University of Texas, Austin, Texas
Number of years in news media: 4 years
What advice do you have for other professionals aspiring to become an editor extraordinaire?
Find a newsroom full of people who inspire you and push you to become a better version of yourself. I firmly believe that there is something we can glean from every person. The numerous tidbits I’ve gathered over the years from my peers have allowed me to thrive at my organization.
Additionally, do not be discouraged by the success or strengths of those around you. Instead of seeing your shortcomings compared to theirs, ask yourself what you can learn from them and how you can use that to better yourself personally and professionally.
What is in your editorial toolbox?
The most important tool I use is an open mind, including stepping back from a story and taking in the larger picture. Being detail-oriented is an essential skill for any editor, but so is not losing the forest for the trees. Always ask yourself what may be missing and how the story can be told better.
Another crucial tool is listening — and not just in interviews. Listen to writers to see how they take feedback and adjust your approach accordingly. Some people prefer theoretical; others need concrete examples. Tailor your approach as necessary to meet writers where they are.
Lastly, news judgment is a vital muscle to use. As writers, we are often attached to our words, but in a world of information overload, news readers really just want to know how it impacts them and why they should care. Keep your audience top of mind and continue to work on better ways to serve them in your writing and the stories you choose to pursue.
Samantha Douty
Senior Editor, Community Impact, Dallas-Fort Worth
Education: Bachelor of Arts in journalism, University of Texas, Arlington, Texas
Number of years in news media: 4 years in student media; 7 years professionally
What advice do you have for other professionals aspiring to become an editor extraordinaire?
You are only as good as your weakest player, and we forget that journalism really is a team sport. There isn’t a single story that is done as a solo act. The best thing you can do is surround yourself with like-minded people. Find a team with the same passion as you and one working toward the same goal.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned by covering government officials?
When it comes to local government, showing up matters. Trust is tough to come by in today's world. The best way to build that trust is by showing up and writing the stories accurately and fairly. Repeat. Doing the hard work every day will show in your writing and your sources. Your readers will recognize it.
Kristin Fayne-Mulroy
Managing and A&E Editor, New York Amsterdam News, New York
Education: Bachelor of Arts in social and behavioral sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
Number of years in news media: 23
What advice do you have for other professionals aspiring to become an editor extraordinaire?
Think about your team, your newsroom and what habits, practices and systems you can put into place that will streamline things and make your teams’ lives easier. The more you’re able to do that, the more time and space there can be for creativity and spontaneity (and last-minute breaking stories).
What has been your proudest moment as an editor?
Getting to interview Prince — one-on-one and in person! I was only allotted half an hour, but he let me have an hour and a half. The next day, I got a voicemail message from his publicist, saying, “Prince LOVED your interview [emphasis hers],” that he loved the questions, and that she wanted to follow up with me to find out what I’d asked him. She and I played phone tag for a bit but never got to fully connect on that point. And I wish I could have had that voicemail message bronzed somehow.
Jennifer A. Garcia
Managing Editor, Rio Grande SUN, Espanola, New Mexico
Number of years in news media: 30 years
What advice do you have for other professionals aspiring to become an editor extraordinaire?
Be open-minded and flexible, but always stick to your values and journalistic standards. Also, be fair and factual.
Don’t be afraid to cover or assign stories that might not be popular. Those are usually the stories that need to be told. You will never please every reader or critic, so don’t try.
Being first doesn’t always mean you’re the best. While it’s nice to break a story, being accurate and telling a better story is more important than being the first to publish it.
Make it a practice to request public records. You will often learn through this process whether your local government entities and other organizations are being transparent with the public and following the rules.
What important lessons have you learned from your audience?
They may not always like what’s published, but they can’t deny the facts.
Despite a few complaints regarding too much “hard” news, that is exactly what most readers want. Website and social media analytics and paper sales support that statement.
When writing tough stories, it’s important to take into consideration the tone and details.
Your audience wants to be informed about what is happening in their community, whether good or bad, and they want it from their local newspaper.
Kris Leonhardt
Senior Editor, Multi Media Channels, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Education: Bachelor of Arts in communications, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
Number of years in news media: 20 years
What advice do you have for other professionals aspiring to become an editor extraordinaire?
In today’s journalism environment, things are constantly changing. Keep finding ways to learn new skills and explore different media forms, such as photography, audio and video. While strong writing skills are essential, the quickly shifting landscape will require new talents.
What is the most unique or exciting breaking news story you’ve covered with your team?
This is a story I like to share with our “Pass it Forward” interns. Years ago, I was spending Christmas Eve with my significant other. We had the fireplace going and the tree lit, and we were cozy on the couch. It was below zero outside with a -30 wind chill factor. At that time, I was the local newspaper editor, and he was the news director for a local radio station. He got a call that there was a fire in our city’s historic downtown district. I hesitated for a few minutes, unwilling to leave the coziness of the Christmas evening. We did go, however, and when we got there it was a lesson to use moving forward. About a dozen firefighters were out there trying to save a gentleman and his dog, as well as the attached buildings downtown. With the cold temperatures, the water was freezing under the firefighters’ feet as they struggled to contain the fire. We were the only media there to cover these committed men and women giving up their holidays with their families to serve others. From that night on, I never hesitated.
Danica Lloyd
Senior Editor, Community Impact, Houston
Education: Bachelor of Arts in journalism, Union University, Jackson, Tennessee
Number of years in news media: 10 years
What advice do you have for other professionals aspiring to become an editor extraordinaire?
As a journalism student and intern, I often heard, “Choose a different career path while you still can.” I needed to hear, “This is a tough industry, but it is possible to build a meaningful, fulfilling career.”
I’d say to someone in that position today: Don’t be afraid to ask “dumb” questions. Practice empathy. Find a mentor or a newsroom that will support and challenge you. Seek and provide honest feedback. Listen more than you speak. Be curious and adaptable. Identify opportunities for efficiency. Don’t be too hard on yourself. You will have typos that haunt you forever, but everyone else immediately forgot about them (if they noticed at all). Get to know people with diverse perspectives and think of them while writing. Tell the reader what they need to know — not just what you want them to know.
How do you motivate yourself and your staff during difficult times?
My newsroom has covered several natural disasters together. That often looks like keeping our readers informed about when their power will be restored while dealing with outages at home ourselves. Just showing up can take a lot of mental and emotional energy on those days, so I recognize that effort and remind my team that’s when their work matters most.
But even in a “normal” week, constant deadlines and the fast-paced news cycle can take a toll. Burnout is real, and mental health is a priority. I do my best to lead with authenticity and encourage my team to do the same. We don’t have to pretend everything’s great when it’s not. We support each other and get through it together.
Editors deliver a lot of critiques, but it’s just as important to celebrate the wins — whether a reporter takes an amazing photo or lands an interview with a hard-to-reach source. I also keep a “fan mail” folder of kind reader emails to remember our work makes a difference. That’s why we keep going.
Tom Martin
Executive Editor, Quad-City Times/Dispatch-Argus, Davenport, Iowa
Education: Bachelor of Arts in mass communication, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; Master’s degree in digital audience strategy, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
Number of years in news media: 35
What advice do you have for other professionals aspiring to become an editor extraordinaire?
Like any profession, growth comes through discomfort, so seek out and embrace challenges and learn from them. It’s also important to make time to think about and discuss stories, coverage and projects. There’s a lot of “doing” in journalism, but thinking and analysis will lead to exceptional work. If acknowledged and reinforced, that work will become contagious in the newsroom.
News deserts are real. People in rural communities deserve quality journalism; too often, they aren’t getting it. Smaller cities and towns can be great places to start and advance a career in journalism because you report on a broad range of issues and might be the only one telling those stories in that community.
Listen to questions in your community and seek answers to those questions.
Why should investigative journalism be important to local publications?
Watchdog reporting, at the core of good journalism, brings actions and issues to light that would otherwise be left in the dark. Without the oversight provided by investigative reporting, officials are free to stray from what’s best for constituents. The “press” is in the First Amendment because our founders understood its importance to sound government.
In conjunction with investigative reporting, local journalism must help us understand each other by telling the stories in our community and giving voice to those who are often silent, overlooked or misunderstood. Whether it’s an immigrant or a MAGA supporter, understanding will make us better people. That leads to stronger, more united communities.
Dan Shearer
Editorial Director, Wick Communications, Sierra Vista, Arizona, and Editor, Green Valley News and the Sahuarita Sun, Green Valley, Arizona
Education: Bachelor of Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
Number of years in news media: 40 years
What advice do you have for other professionals aspiring to become an editor extraordinaire?
What do you see as the most important trend in editorial content today?
We’re often sent in a lot of directions — newsletters, videos, podcasts, social media, websites, slideshows, events. The fact is that they’re all important and contribute to a diversified revenue stream that we need. But if the quality reporting isn’t there — if you’re not delighting, surprising and even horrifying your readers on occasion — all the platforms in the world won’t save you.
Alexis Joyce Taylor
Managing Editor, AFRO American Newspapers, Baltimore
Education: Bachelor of Arts in fine art and photography with a minor in journalism, Morgan State University, Baltimore; Master of Science in education, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
Number of years in news media: 14 years
What advice do you have for professionals aspiring to become an editor extraordinaire?
I encourage all young professionals who aspire to become an editor extraordinaire to always go the extra mile. You will never be sorry you secured an extra interview, spent more time asking questions or dug a little deeper to find the truth. Put in the work! As artificial intelligence becomes a permanent fixture in editorial departments around the world, I advise younger journalists and editors to still put time into mastering the conventions of the trade, now carried out by technology.
How do you keep your cool when dealing with stressful people or situations?
Each year, I rededicate myself to the mission of the Black Press on March 16. As John Russwurm and Reverend Samuel Cornish said in 1827, “Too long have others spoken for us.” When I get stressed and fatigued, I remember my “why.” I was put here to tell the Black story, a vibrant thread woven deep into the tapestry of America. I entered this field to record the beauty of a people, including all of their triumphs and challenges in history. I take pride in gathering the facts, doing the research and informing the masses. I truly enjoy giving an unadulterated voice to the voiceless. There is no conflict or difficult situation more important than the goal. Knowing my purpose and my mission has carried me through the tough times, along with the words of my mentors and the ancestors who have gone before me.
Robin Blinder is E&P's editor-in-chief. She has been with E&P for four years. She can be reached at robin@editorandpublisher.com.
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