Fairbanks Daily News-Miner announces changes in management
Published Friday, July 18, 2008
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS — After 13 years as managing editor at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Kelly Bostian is leaving Alaska to become the outdoor editor for the Tulsa World in Oklahoma, a position similar to the one he held early in his nearly 23-year journalism career at the News-Miner.
Longtime staffer and Assistant Managing Editor Rod Boyce will fill the seat left vacant by Bostian, News-Miner Publisher Marilyn Romano announced.
“We hate to see Kelly leave, but understand his desire to be closer to his family,” Romano said. “Tulsa’s gain is definitely our loss. We’ll miss him greatly.”
Boyce will take on the managing editor position shortly after Bostian’s departure in mid-August.
“We feel fortunate that we have such depth in our newsroom that we can select from within, and we are so pleased that Rod will become our managing editor, effective Aug. 18,” Romano said. “And at the same time we’re excited that Sam Bishop will be returning to the News-Miner. Prior to pursuing another career opportunity a year ago, Sam had been with the company for 24 years. We welcome him back as assistant managing editor, and he will be responsible for the opinion page.”
Bostian’s tenure at the News-Miner began shortly after he graduated from his home state alma mater, Iowa State University. He was hired as a features writer and worked on the copy desk before he became outdoors editor. For the next eight years, he enjoyed writing and engaging in his lifelong pursuits of hunting, fishing and camping before taking over editorial managerial duties.
“I have lived half my life in Fairbanks,” Bostian said “I was married here. My daughters were born here. The thought of leaving Fairbanks and the News-Miner — all the people I have come to love and respect — it’s hard to even think about it.
“At the same time, I have a tremendous opportunity awaiting in Tulsa. My family and I are excited by the prospect of a new home and a new community,” he said. “I am truly blessed to have an opportunity to devote myself again to outdoor writing.”
Bostian, 46, and his wife, DeAnna, were married in Fairbanks the spring of 1986. They have two daughters, Chloe, 19, and Sydney, 12.
Boyce, 47, was raised in Southern California and earned a degree from Humboldt State University. A journalist since the mid-1980s, he worked at several California newspapers and was assistant city editor at the Sacramento Union before heading north. In Alaska, he worked as assistant city editor at The Anchorage Times until it folded. He worked for a chain of rural Alaska newspapers before joining the news desk at the News-Miner in 1994. He also has served as opinion page editor.
Boyce, his wife, Julie Stricker and their daughter, Edie, live in Two Rivers and support a kennel of more than two dozen sled dogs that they race from time to time.
Born and raised in Alaska, Bishop was hired at the News-Miner in 1984 as a reporter and advanced to city editor and opinion page editor before moving to the nation’s capital in 2000 as the News-Miner’s Washington D.C. correspondent. In 2007, he left the paper to take a job in the state’s D.C. office under John Katz, director of state and federal relations and special counsel to the governor.
Bishop, his wife Suzanne, and daughters Nell and Louise, are now traveling cross-country, homeward bound. Bishop will officially rejoin the News-Miner staff on Aug. 5.
Community Discussion
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Ohh, Kelly, You are going to be sooo homesick. Congrats on the new job. An Okie!
And some good picks for the new management. Rod has paid his dues- and Sam should be happy to leave DC and come home.
Good luck and good riddance.
Damn! Tough crowd in the comment section here. Couldn't just say "Good Luck," or nothing at all. Had to put the proverbial boot up Kelly's butt on his way out the door. "Good riddance!" Wow.......tough crowd indeed!
Take Care Kelly and the "Fam." Tulsa awaits.....!
Good luck, Kelly! Hope you enjoy those great Oklahoma mountains!
I second mike's comments -
maybe the DNM editorial board will more accurately reflect the feelings of the interior now...
Care to elaborate for the board how the Interior feels akguy?
korn -
read the comments under the last couple of weeks of Editorials published.
though I know the people who comment on the editorial topics represent only a small portion of the population, I think they accurately reflect the sentiment
IMO the sentiment of these comments has been generally negative in regard to the editorials and choice of editorial topics in general.
A general feeling of distrust in the motivations of the DNM is reflected in those comments I think....I guess you could always say that these are just a few disgruntled people - but I think it hints at a general lack of connection between the DNM and its readers
Kelly, I wish you much luck, Tulsa is a nice city. It's Muscogee Creek Indian Territory and some old stomping grounds of my family. No matter what you will be missed.
Hopefully Kelly will still contribute to the Alaska magazine from Tulsa. I especially enjoyed his journalism through out all these years. I will miss the special touch he has for this business.
Except I wish Sam Bishop was gonna be Captain of the ship. Sam is more old school Alaska; I was sorry to see him go, but I am sure happy to see him come back.
So many people folks come here and make their careers, retire, then leave...at least Sam's coming back.
Can't help thinking it's truly the plan for many to come, work, and retire (at least with due time in for a job), elsewhere, all the while proclaiming to wish to spend the rest of their lives is Alaska.
Kelly's done some good writings in the outdoors section in the past. Looks like he's part of the exodus. Hope he didn't have much sway on the plans for the surplus, since our situation won't affect him.
I'm pretty sure that editorials are decided upon by a group of upper staff. I really don't think only one person decides the whole thing--at least most of the time.
Anyway, especially since the paper got sold and no longer was local, that is when it began to reflect a lot of the views so many of us have a problem with.
That also suggests to me that other powers hold some sway in the Opinion pieces.
Or maybe these guys actually believe a bunch of this editorial stuff.
This place had really changed in attitude--even just since Sam left.
Cost of energy getting a little high?
Good luck Kelly. We'll miss you. Keep us informed of your new life in Tulsa.
akguy, commentators are self-selected and guaranteed to not be proportionally representative. For every commenter who disagrees with an editorial, how many people do you think read it and didn't find reason to comment?
If you want something to "accurately reflect the sentiment" of the Interior, I guess your best bet would be to compile quotes from elected officials around here, because a majority of voters have elected them.
Or maybe you are really looking for an expression of a minority view?
Kelly, good luck in OK! Although I've been critical over the years and tried to hold the DNM/you to a high standard, I respect you personally and wish you and the family well. Bless your new adventure.
According to a quick search fuel is almost a dollar cheaper per gallon down there so would ya' mind shipping some back here?
I try to be open minded. It's the Zen thing to do. But in truth, the DNM editorials have shown a remarkable favor towards the oil companies that have been racking Alaskans and americans in general, as well as a distinguishable anti-palin setiment. An opinion obviously not shared by the majority of Alaskans who elected her.
She has gone in guns blazing to reform Alaskan government the way we have begged for. It's way to early in her governship to be so cynical and critical of her.
Is she right? wrong? Time will tell, but for now, she deserves the chance, and our support. And as she is so well thought of by many Alaskans, any public displays of unfounded, incessant rebuff and criticism, is bound to meet with it's own share of rebuke.
"a position similar to the one he held early in his nearly 23-year journalism career at the News-Miner." WOW!
I hope the new regime takes a second look at a few things. Considering the non-news annoying fluff that usually fills page 3, perhaps they could use that space for a return to free obituaries and reverse the recent decision to charge the families $75.00 each.
Heya Gilcrease- some Cherokees been known to stomp there too ya know!
Best of luck to you and your family in the new digs.
and its a shame that Sam is already married... lucky women ... WELCOME HOME SAM......
The Old Saying is "The Rats Always leave a Sinking-Ship!
And I see "One More RAT is Leaving this Sinking-Ship!
The News-Miner use to be a Really Good Newspaper, along time ago!
The Newsminer use to report things that was importance to us here in Alaska. But over the years, the News-miner has changed.
The options from people I know about the News-miner and the Reporting they do, is Not Good!
Mostly the stories you read about now in the News-miner are just “Rehashed Stories” from the “Associated-Press”.
Then when you do Read something that’s NOT from the “Associated-Press”, most likely it’s going to be “How we are the cause of global warming, how bad it is for us to be in Iraq, or how bad Bush is!
I wish whoever owns the News-Miner would Fire the people running it now, and get some REAL “News Reporters” in there!
People tell me now, that this paper has much credibility as the old “Rag-Newspapers” you use to see with Headlines saying “Elvis is alive and was seen with 5 Green-Men from Mars!
About the Only Reason I even Read the Newsminer Now, is for the Outdoor-section.
Well LoadDrive1, since you and all the other whiners on here are all yearning for days of yore, what do you with your astute journalism insight suggest the DNM be covering? The local potluck down at corner church? The latest Little League game? Yeah, 'cause that's groundbreaking news.
Keep up the good work, DNM staff, and good luck and congrats, Kelly.
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