Boise Weekly Names New Editor
april 6, 2007 03:40 pm
Shea Andersen is the new editor at Boise Weekly, Idaho's Only Alternative.
After working as BW's news editor for the past year, Andersen will finally occupy the editor's office that was vacated by Nicholas Collias in October. The back office, affectionately known as "the cave," now includes a couch.
Boise native Deanna Darr will become the BW news editor, after a career that includes stints at the Jackson Hole News and Guide, the Bend Bulletin and the Arizona Republic. Amy Atkins will continue as arts and entertainment editor, a position she assumed in October.
"We've got big plans for Boise Weekly," Andersen said. "For starters, we're sending a reporter to Cuba, we're refurbishing the website and there's finally some really good coffee in the break room." Boise Weekly is also involved in a court battle to force the release of public records. In short, his tenure as editor promises to be one of the most expensive in BW's 14-year history.
Publisher Sally Freeman (previously Sally Barnes) could not be happier with Andersen taking on the role of editor. Not having an editor for six months required Freeman to wear many hats in the interim, including helping out the editorial team.
"As publisher, I'm willing to do whatever it takes, but I am ready to get back to focusing on the business side of things," said Freeman. "The experience of working so closely with the editorial team, although challenging, proved to be invaluable for me."
Freeman will continue to work with Andersen and his editorial team on strategies for refining and expanding editorial content.
"We are now positioned to take Boise Weekly to another level, with Shea in place," Freeman said.
Since starting as a lowly intern for High Country News in 1995, Andersen has worked as a journalist in Colorado, Oregon, New Mexico and Idaho. He hosted a short public-television program in New Mexico, which helped people realize he wasn't a woman.
"If I get one more e-mail addressed to 'Ms. or Mrs. Andersen,' I'm going to unleash some serious virus action." he said.
