Current news editor and seasoned Daily Lobo staff member Angela Williams has been named the newspaper's editor in chief for the 2002-2003 school year.
Williams, a junior double majoring in creative writing and journalism, was selected unanimously 6-0 by the Student Publications Board. She now is in the process of assembling her staff and will take the reins from current editor in chief Iliana Lim¢n Sunday.
Williams has a long history with the Lobo. While a senior at Albuquerque High School in the fall of 1998, she interned at the newspaper under then-editor Zachary Shank. She says that was when she learned the basics of news writing, researching and interviewing.
After graduating, Williams left for West Virginia University but returned to UNM and the Daily Lobo after one semester.
"When I came back, I began consistently writing for the Lobo, and I fell in love with it from there," Williams said.
During her three years at the Lobo she has been a freelance reporter, staff reporter, assistant news editor and news editor twice.
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"I think her strength is her experience in the newsroom," Lim¢n said. "That and her education with an emphasis on writing and editing. I also think she has strong leadership skills."
Williams said she got the chance to hone her management and editing skills this past year as editor of Conceptions Southwest, UNM's annual literary and visual arts magazine.
"It taught me how to manage a staff and create a publication basically out of thin air," she said.
Williams also credited Lim¢n and Henry Trewhitt, professor emeritus and Daily Lobo writing coach, with giving her the knowledge and instruction to succeed as an editor.
"They have pretty much taught me everything I know," she said. "They both pushed me so hard to places I didn't think I'd ever go."
Trewhitt said he is pleased with the work Williams did with Conceptions Southwest and expects more of the same from her as Lobo editor.
"She is working hard and she is showing steady improvement," he said. "I expect great things from her. The biggest challenge she is going to face is mobilizing her staff and talent to produce a credible newspaper - after all, these people are just students."
Lim¢n echoed Trewhitt's thoughts about the obstacles Williams will confront.
"Recruiting a broad base of reporters is something the Lobo has always had to face," she said. "I think she is well-prepared to handle it and she has developed good relationships within the journalism and English departments, and that will help."
Williams will begin by filling the vacancies left by Daily Lobo veterans Andrew Webb, managing editor; Simïn Trujillo, culture editor; Francisco Ojeda, sports editor; Matthew Dunn, photo editor; and Alma Olaechea, former news editor, who are either graduating or stepping down top pursue other interests.
Williams said she is prepared to meet the challenge and will do what it takes to maintain the newspaper's quality.
"The function of the Daily Lobo is to be the eyes and ears of the UNM community," she said. "We have some big holes to fill and we need to find quality people. I will do my best to create a paper that serves the community's needs, is respectable, and can be put up against any publication in the country."
