That's Simison -- Not Simpson -- Named Managing Editor in Springfield

By: Cynthia G. Simison, a veteran reporter and editor, has been named managing editor of The Republican and Sunday Republican newspaper.

Simison, 50, has been managing editor for special projects and editor for The Republican's eight weekly Plus Papers, which she developed and will continue to oversee, the newspaper announced Tuesday.

"Local news is our highest priority, and Cynthia covers those bases with the same enthusiasm and zeal that she has for her beloved Red Sox," Publisher Larry A. McDermott said.

She succeeds Marie P. Grady, who left the newspaper in July.

Simison has held a variety of reporting and editing assignments at the newspaper since joining the former Springfield Daily News, a predecessor to The Republican, as a reporter in 1977.

"I've always been amazed at her ability to pull off the impossible and her complete dedication to the interest of the readers of our newspaper," said Executive Editor Wayne E. Phaneuf, who has worked with Simison since 1978 when he was assistant managing editor at the Daily News.

Simison is native of Northampton who began her career in high school working at the Daily Hampshire Gazette. She is a graduate of Syracuse University.