Mark Johnson is returning to the sports department of the Register-Guard in Eugene, Ore. He replaces Ron Bellamy, who retired after a 36-year career at the paper, including the past nine years as sports editor.
Johnson has worked at the paper since 1990, but has been working outside of sports since 2000. He was hired as a copy editor in 1990; was assistant sports editor from 1993 to 2000; was assistant city editor for two years; and then features editor for the last 10 years.
"The sports department at the Register-Guard is held in high regard because of the standards set by Ron Bellamy and his staff," Johnson said in a story published Sept. 9. "I feel extremely fortunate to join that group."
Johnson also worked as Sunday editor for the Contra Costa Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and sports editor for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Ore., before being hired in Eugene.
Promotions in Provo
Jarred Lloyd has been promoted to sports editor of the Daily Herald in Provo, Utah.
He replaces Darnell Dickson, who was named sports editor of the Lincoln Journal Star in Lincoln, Neb., part of Lee Enterprises, which also owns the Daily Herald.
Lloyd also will cover BYU athletics, as Dickson did, along with have responsibility for the daily sports section. Lloyd has been at the Herald since 2004, largely covering high schools and making contributions to BYU, UVU and other sports coverage. Lloyd also had been charged with coordinating online sports coverage.
"I'm thrilled to continue to build the presence of the Daily Herald in covering BYU football and sports in Utah Valley," Lloyd said in a Herald story announcing his promotion. "I already know that we have an incredible staff of reporters and designers who understand our audience. I'm excited to step into these positions and work to enhance our current products."
Promotions in Provo
Jarred Lloyd has been promoted to sports editor of the Daily Herald in Provo, Utah.
He replaces Darnell Dickson, who was named sports editor of the Lincoln Journal Star in Lincoln, Neb., part of Lee Enterprises, which also owns the Daily Herald.
Lloyd also will cover BYU athletics, as Dickson did, along with have responsibility for the daily sports section. Lloyd has been at the Herald since 2004, largely covering high schools and making contributions to BYU, UVU and other sports coverage. Lloyd also had been charged with coordinating online sports coverage.
"I'm thrilled to continue to build the presence of the Daily Herald in covering BYU football and sports in Utah Valley," Lloyd said in a Herald story announcing his promotion. "I already know that we have an incredible staff of reporters and designers who understand our audience. I'm excited to step into these positions and work to enhance our current products."
Phillip Morgan, currently chief designer on the sports desk inside the Herald, was named assistant sports editor. Morgna has been with the paper since July 2005, when he began as a part-time writer, before being hired full time to handle layout responsibilities.
"Being given an opportunity like this is very special," Morgan said. "I grew up reading the Daily Herald, so to be able to help promote the paper is an honor."
Heater returns to AV Press
Jay Heater has returned to the Antelope Valley Press in Palmdale, Calif., as sports editor. He had left the paper in mid-2007.
He replaces former APSE third vice president Toby Carrig, who has returned to Missouri, at the St. Genevieve Herald.
Heater had most recently been the sports editor of the Idaho State Journal in Pocatello, where he also covered Idaho State football.
Chase Glorfield, who has been with the Journal since February, has been named interim sports editor.
In other moves:
SOUTHEAST
Orlando Sentinel: David Georgette, who has worked as the Orlando Sentinel as a sports senior editor, assistant sports editor and Universal Desk night production editor since 2000, is the new Florida Night Sports Editor for the Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel. Before joining the Orlando Sentinel as a senior editor in 2000, David served as an assistant sports editor and interim sports editor at the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville and was the assistant managing editor for sports at Gannett Suburban Newspapers in New York. His career also includes stops at Tennis Week, the Miami Herald and the Chico (Calif.) Enterprise Record.
Tuscaloosa (Ala) News: Damien Martin, a University of Missouri graduate, has joined the universal desk as a sports copy editor and page designer.
Naples (Fla.) Daily News: Scott Butherus has been hired to fill an open sports multimedia journalist position, with a focus on video. He replaces Nick Krueger, who left for a videographer position with Rivals.com. Scott’s a native Floridian who worked for the past four years at the Tampa Tribune before falling victim to layoffs at the Tribune. He performed a variety of responsibilities there, including video editor for print, online and television. Scott holds a master's degree in multimedia journalism from the University of South Florida, and has experience working with podcasts and video for the Internet. In addition to video production expertise, Scott is also an experienced sports reporter/writer and has photography and graphic design skills
CBSSports.com: Added senior college football columnist Bruce Feldman, formerly of ESPN.com.
GREAT PLAINS
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Bill Coats, a 33-year veteran in sports, who most recently was serving as the Rams backup writer and general assignment, has retired.
Denver Post: Sports copy chief Angie Clemmons left paper to return to North Carolina to get married.
Kansas City Star: Promoted part-time copy editor Rustin Dodd to full-time general assignment reporter. A jack of all trades for the Star, providing insightful coverage of the Royals (he's also the paper's primary baseball blogger) and high schools while also writing takeouts and toiling too many nights on the desk. A Kansas grad, he'll be leaving the desk behind now to focus soley on writing and blogging.
Lawton (Okla.) Constitution: Hired Kylle Vrska to cover area high school sports and the University of Oklahoma football. A native of Claremore, Okla., Vrska is 2010 graduate of the University of Arkansas. He replaces Jacob Unruh, who took a desk position at the Daily Oklahoman.
SOUTHWEST
Austin American-Statesman: Alex McGuffie, a member of the Beaumont Enterprise’s universal copy desk who earned two APSE Southwest Region headline awards for 2010, took a position on the copy desk in Austin.
NORTHWEST
Bellingham Herald: Sports writer Joe Sunnen left the newspaper to take over his family's business. He spent about 6 1/2 years with in Bellingham. To replace him, the Herald hired recent Western Washington University graduate Andrew Lang.
Twin Falls (Idaho) Times-News: Patrick Sheltra has been appointed sports editor. He replaces Mike Christensen, who moved over into the Times-News' advertising department. Sheltra's last newspaper was with the Hutchinson (Kan.) News, where he was a sports writer and copy editor.
Seattle Times: Hired Paul Ramsdell as a desk editor and Janelle Wetzstein and Kyle MacDonald as news assistants.
UDubNation.com: Gail Wood, former sports columnist and reporter for The Olympian in Olympia, Wash., has agreed to write columns for UDubNation.com, which is part of Rivals.com.
The (Spokane) The Spokesman-Review: The paper offered an early retirement package and five members of the sports department accepted and will retire on Dec. 31. Leaving will be deputy sports editor Gil Hulse; columnist John Blanchette; and staff writers Steve Bergum, Vince Grippi and Dave Trimmer. The five veteran staff members represent more than 150 years of experience in newspapers. Hulse has been the ASE for seven years and the lead sports copy editor for 21 years. Blanchette is an APSE award-winning columnist and has been with the S-R for 30 years. Bergum (32 years at the S-R), a former SE at the S-R, has covered Washington State football and basketball, Gonzaga basketball and currently has the Eastern Washington University beat. Vince Grippi (28 years) currently covers Washington State football and basketball. He is also a former S-R graphics editor. Trimmer (23 years) covers Spokane Chiefs hockey, women's basketball and preps. Blanchette has agreed to write columns as a correspondent and Hulse will work on the copy desk as a part-timer. In addition, former sports editor Jeff Jordan will take the retirement package and work part-time on the sports copy desk. The department hopes to make two new hires.
Everett (Wash.) Herald: Named Aaron Swaney prep editor/writer, replacing Mike Cane, who moved to part-time in order to pursue a teaching degree. Also, former prep editor John McDonald moved to the copy desk.
WEST
Ventura County (Calif.) Star: Jon Catalini has rejoined the Star as sports editor. He takes over for Derry Eads, who retired in July after 42 years with Scripps and 13 years with The Star, mostly as the paper's prep editor. Catalini had been the paper’s sports editor for more than a decade until February 2010.
