Dedication and professionalism
My journalism journey began in Illinois as a kid who reached his limits as an artist in college, but loved to write, so decided to give this journalism thing a shot. I took my first job as an editorial assistant at the Southern Illinoisan in Carbondale, Illinois, before working as a reporter covering higher education and weekend breaking news. I worked my way up to night managing editor, where I found my calling: Bringing out the best in reporters while serving the readers to my best ability to make sure they have the best, most accurate and impactful news.
From there, I followed my mentor, Autumn Phillips, to Davenport, Iowa, to work as planning editor for the Quad-City Times. But one year was enough to realize I wanted more and that's when I found the chance to work as enterprise editor at the El Paso Times, the most rewarding and challenging experience in my career. There, I led reporters through immigration crises, mass violence at the border and the COVID-19 pandemic.
After four years, I accomplished what I wanted to and moved to a larger market at the Houston Chronicle to oversee public safety.
Always hungry for more, I'm ready to do my best to better more newsrooms and give my all to the readers who rely on us to keep them informed.
“Don't use a quote lede unless it's 'I'm back,' Jesus said.”
Bill Recktenwald, late Pulitzer Prize-winning Chicago journalist and professor at Southern Illinois University