Thank You Arts Writer Doug Norris
Paper names new editors
Thursday, May 24, 2012 11:04 AM EDT
Independent Newspapers has named a new managing editor and new arts editor as several employees shift their responsibilities at the company.
Doug Norris, the Arts & Living editor for the past 12 years, is leaving his post as of June 15 to pursue freelance opportunities and travel.
Betty J. Cotter, who has been managing editor of Independent Newspapers since its founding in 1997, will be stepping down from her post to take the Arts & Living position.
Liz Boardman, who has covered South Kingstown for the South County Independent since 2006, will become managing editor.
Iain Wilson, who has been a reporter for the South County Independent for nearly two years, will move from the Narragansett beat to the South Kingstown beat.
The series of changes was sparked by Norris’ decision and Cotter’s subsequent request for a reduced role in the company. For the past year she has been teaching part time at the University of Rhode Island and would like to devote more time to that endeavor. She will continue to work full time this summer during the transition and will reduce her hours at the newspaper in September.
“While we are sad to see Doug Norris leave and Betty Cotter step away from her role as managing editor, we are glad that she will stay with the company and that Liz Boardman will be taking her place,” said Publisher William Lucey. “The company will continue to have highly qualified employees in these two editing positions.”
Norris, who has won many awards in his 12 years with the company, has built a reputation as one of the premier arts writers in the state. His nuanced reviews and columns are among the most popular features in the paper, and his blog attracts many hits on the newspapers’ Web sites.
Boardman, whose reporting on the Flood of 2010 and the Michael Woodmansee case were recognized by both the New England and Rhode Island press associations, is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has extensive freelance writing experience in addition to her years as a newspaper reporter, and she also teaches writing to adults.
Wilson recently shared a second-place award with Boardman from the Rhode Island Press Association for Investigative/Analytical News Series for their Woodmansee coverage, work that also was honored by the New England Press Association. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Salve Regina University.
Norris will work through June 15, but Cotter, Boardman and Wilson will assume their new roles as of June 4.
