Although Brad Schmidt has spent only one year on staff at the Oregon Daily Emerald, that year was enough for him to affirm his passion for journalism and his desire to learn — and teach — more about the craft. The Emerald Board of Directors named Brad Schmidt the 2003-04 editor in chief Tuesday night.
He steps in for current editor in chief Michael J. Kleckner, who graduates in June.
“I’ve only been at the Emerald a year, but it was a very important year,” Schmidt said. “It helped me to grow, and I want to continue to grow and guide other people next year.”
Schmidt’s journalism career took flight at his high school newspaper, where he learned “a little bit of everything” from page design to reporting and served as a sports editor and columnist.
As a journalism major and communications studies and business minor at the University, he joined the Emerald staff in spring 2002 as a community reporter. He continued on staff in the summer as the sports editor. By fall, he was a senior reporter and was promoted to news editor before accepting a Charles Snowden internship to the Albany Democrat-Herald and Corvallis Gazette-Times for the spring.
Schmidt has also held leadership positions within his fraternity, Kappa Sigma, and he has been a Student Alumni Relations Board member for three and a half years, planning University activities and career-building events.
“It will be really exciting to hand over the reins of the paper to somebody who’s really talented and really excited about news,” Kleckner said. “I hope, and I think, that I brought some new ideas to the paper, and the University community can look forward to a very professional, top-notch newspaper.”
Candidates are evaluated on experience, Emerald newsroom knowledge, journalism skills and management skills.
Deciding who will lead a student publication is often debatable. Although there were three qualified candidates this year, Schmidt’s mixture of experience and emotion about journalism made him
a standout.
“He wanted to implement enterprise reporting as well as covering the basic ins and outs of campus,” Emerald board chairman Chris Frisella said. “He struck us as somebody who’s passionate about newspapers. He’s a newshound.”
Schmidt said he’s ready — and eager — for the challenge.
“I’m excited for the opportunity,” he said. “The Emerald is really important to the community.”
First on his list is soaking up as much information as he can from Kleckner, while balancing his out-of-town internship for the remainder of the term.
Schmidt hopes the position will be a win-win situation for himself and the Emerald staff, and good preparation for his future career.
“Working at the Emerald gives you a sense of what it’s like being a professional,” he said. “It’s what you want to do, and you’re doing it every day. It’s a great rush.”
Schmidt’s term as editor begins June 10.