Jessica Blanchard has moved up through the ranks of the Oregon Daily Emerald quickly in the last year and a half, and now she has reached the top. Emerald board members announced last night that Blanchard will be the 2001-02 editor-in-chief.
Despite her success at the paper, she said getting her foot in the door was not easy. Blanchard, who transferred to the University in 1999, said because she had been editor-in-chief of her community college paper, she expected to obtain a position on staff at the Emerald without any trouble.
“I came in and I was so cocky,” she said.
Blanchard said she applied to be a news aide but was turned down because they said she was “overqualified.”
Instead, she began writing freelance stories for the paper on a regular basis, and was soon hired on to be a reporter on the higher education desk. Later, she moved up to become a desk editor, and then a special section editor before attaining her current position of managing editor.
Board chairman Larry Tergesen said the three candidates running for editor-in-chief were among the most qualified applicants he had seen during his six years on the board.
Although the decision was a difficult one, Tergesen said Blanchard’s previous experience as managing editor, and her knowledge of the paper made the difference.
“She demonstrated she had a very clear idea of what the Emerald should do,” he said.
Her term as chief will commence with fall term 2001 and run the length of the school year.
Board members were also impressed by Blanchard’s concern for the University and for her staff, said production representative Melissa O’Connell.
“Her heart’s really in the right place, plus she has all the experience and ability to back it up,” O’Connell said.
Advertising representative Doug Hentges said he was struck by Blanchard’s poise and leadership style during her presentation to the board.
“Jessica was very decisive, eloquent, and intelligent,” he said.
As editor-in-chief, Blanchard said she will focus on campus outreach among her priorities. She said she will strive toward improving relationships between the Emerald and student organizations that have been strained in the past.
She also said the Emerald needs to cover issues important to all students at the University. Often, non-traditional students are overlooked on campus, Blanchard said. As editor, she will work to ensure their perspective is represented as well.
The Emerald is a student newspaper, Blanchard said, and its content should reflect the concerns of its audience.
“What we need to focus on is making sure every story that goes in the paper is relevant to students,” Blanchard said.