The Emerald Media Group Board of Directors has selected Tarek Anthony to be the 2025 to 2026 Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Emerald.
Anthony, a current sophomore studying journalism and political science, said he has always been interested in journalism and joined his high school newspaper as a news reporter at the end of his freshman year. Anthony joined the Daily Emerald in 2023, one month before starting at the University of Oregon as a freshman.
“During my senior year (of high school), I got into this pace of cranking out local political coverage, which got me really excited about journalism and firmed up my choice to major in it,” Anthony said. “When I was considering colleges and particularly UO, I frequently looked at the Emerald and would joke about how someday I would want to be EIC there. Now I am applying, so it’s kind of full circle.”
Anthony is the current Investigations Editor and Newsletter Producer at the Emerald, a position he said is “incredibly rewarding.” Anthony previously worked for the news desk covering crime and government.
“Running a desk has been one of the most challenging yet formative and enjoyable experiences of my life. More than the journalism itself, learning how to manage a team of 10+ people with different work styles and personalities has been an invaluable experience, one that I can carry forward to an EiC role and any leadership position I take on in the future,” Anthony said.
As the Daily Emerald Newsletter Producer, Anthony said he gained skills he didn’t have before. Everything from experience with headlines, audience engagement and analytics to email marketing and refining his news judgement. All things, Anthony said, that will help him make “more informed editorial decisions.”
Current Editor-in-Chief, Tristin Hoffman, said that while the position can be difficult at times, she is fully confident in Anthony’s ability to lead the publication and that his passion for journalism is “infectious.”
“With his knowledge of public records, journalism ethics and devotion to impactful reporting as Investigations editor, I’m positive his focus on these qualities of journalism will help lead the Emerald newsroom to new heights this upcoming year,” Hoffman said.
With over 54 articles and counting for the Emerald, Anthony credits the experience gained from hard news reporting and in-depth coverage for giving him a more holistic perspective on news and storytelling. Though difficult to choose just one, Anthony said his favorite stories so far are a profile on Jake McGrew and a story on Douglas Barr.
“I really enjoyed doing my Jake McGrew Ukraine profile because it was one of the most moving interviews I have taken part in. I think my proudest one though, would be the Douglas Barr story because of the immediate impact it had on the community,” Anthony said.
Anthony said his motivations for running for EiC are, among other things, to improve and grow the publication.
“I truly believe that we provide some of the best coverage in the city and with increased competition, I want to help the Emerald continue to improve and grow. It is also somehow my last year at the Emerald already, and so I really can’t think of a better way to close out my college experience helping to lead a publication I value so dearly,” Anthony said.
Anthony has a goal of securing a digital-first approach for the Emerald. With a print redesign occurring under Hoffman, Anthony said, attention can be shifted to online content. Anthony also hopes to build up alliances with other Big Ten student newspapers to strengthen student publications as a whole.
In a message to the Daily Emerald, Anthony encouraged staff to be the best that they can be and said he can’t wait to continue working and expanding the Emerald.
“Every day, I’m amazed by the creativity and talent in our newsroom. The work you all produce, whether it’s breaking news, in-depth investigations, compelling podcasts or sharp visuals, deserves to be seen. That means strengthening our storytelling, amplifying our reach and making sure our journalism has an impact. Whether through strategic coverage, stronger distribution or innovative formats, I want us to keep pushing forward,” Anthony said.
In a message to UO and greater Eugene community, Anthony said he hopes to continue to build trust between the publication and the community and thanked the viewers for the readership and engagement given to the Emerald.
“Every day, I am honored to bear the responsibility of bringing news to the UO and Eugene community. Trust is at the core of everything we do. You count on us to report with accuracy, integrity and accountability, and we don’t take that lightly,” Anthony said. “Our newsroom strives to be a trusted source, a critical watchdog and a reflection of the community we serve. Thank you for reading, engaging and challenging us to be better. We do this for you, and we couldn’t be prouder to serve this community.”
