The Post hires editor for 2001-2002

by Emily Swartzlander
Editor

In third grade, Ohio University junior Mike Canan wrote a paper about what he wanted to be when he grew up. In it, Canan said he wanted to be a newspaper editor.

Next year Canan will get his chance when he takes on the position of editor-in-chief for The Post's 2001-02 school year. Canan, from Circleville, was hired as the editor yesterday by the Post Publishing Board, which includes Ohio University students, faculty members and administrators as well Athens community members.

Canan said the strongest part of his 25-page proposal to the board is the structural changes to the staff he suggested. As part of restructuring, The Post's Lifestyles and Entertainment staffs will combine to become the Culture staff. In addition, Canan proposed several changes to the copy editing system at The Post.

The experience of the returning staff members will make the structural changes possible, Canan said. He also hopes to get feedback from readers to help improve The Post's coverage.

"The more feedback we get, the better newspaper we can become," Canan said.

Canan has worked for The Post for almost three years, covering the city of Nelsonville, the city of Athens and Ohio University sports. This year, Canan was The Post's sports editor and managed a team of about 15 reporters. He has also interned with the Circleville Herald and will travel to Washington, D.C. this summer to work with Scripps Howard News Service.

Canan's hard work and dedication to The Post will make him a highly qualified editor, said Ryan Ernst, The Post's assistant sports editor.

Ernst said Canan's balance when dealing with his staff members also will help him succeed.

"He's opinionated when he needs to be. He's objective when he needs to be. And he's extremely fair," Ernst said.

Kristin Gordon, The Post's managing editor, said she's seen Canan mature as a journalist throughout the past three years.

"I think that as a journalist he's grown up a lot," she said. "I think editors, reporters - everyone in general - has a lot of respect for him."

Canan said he will interview for a managing editor and associate editor within the next two weeks. Interested applicants should look for advertisements in The Post. He will interview for other staff editor positions soon after the managing and associate editors are hired.