By Nick Kelly | Alabama Beat Writer for The Tuscaloosa News
About a year ago, Ed Reed discovered the value of availability.
APSE needed to fill the spot of Third Vice President when his predecessor was unable to finish his term. Then Reed, the USA TODAY Network – Florida deputy sports editor, got a call.
During that conversation, he accepted the Third VP role. Reed has filled it for the past year, but he didn’t want to be only appointed to the role. He wanted to actually be elected.
This spring, he was.
Reed, a 15-year member of APSE, was elected APSE’s Third Vice President. He will serve a two-year term beginning in June.
“The learning phase is over, and I’m ready to take the training wheels off,” Reed said.
Reed has worked in Fort Myers for 22 years with The News-Press. He started his career as a weekly sports editor then joined the daily staff after six months. Reed continued to be promoted, first to assistant sports editor in 2002 then sports editor in 2007.
He has since picked up more responsibilities, becoming Naples Daily News editor in 2017. Then in 2019, he began directing six Gannett properties in Florida. A year ago, he moved into his current role. Reed helps supervise 18 properties in the Sunshine State.
Reed is an East Boston native who attended Boston University and has worked in the business since 1995.
The decades of working with sports sections at small newspapers is a primary reason Reed wanted to become Third VP.
“We are on the ground every day in our community,” Reed said. “And I think it’s important to support the small papers and bolster them and help the others who often don’t have the resources that bigger papers do to continue that mission. I live it, I’m living it today, we’re doing it. And I just want to help others be able to do the best they can with what they have.”
For Reed to measure his two – really three – years as VP as a success, he wants to see membership and participation grow among small papers. That’s in the contest, running for national office and regional participation. He also wants to improve networking opportunities for reporters at small outlets.
Reed is certainly in a better position to accomplish those goals, thanks to the year-long test run.
“I feel I know better who to talk to and how to talk to people, how to contact them,” Reed said. “I think I have an understanding of how to start bringing them together.”
