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| Blimling selects Nix
as 69th editor-in-chief |
Katrina Walker
Staff Writer |
Josh Brown | Chief
Photographer
Current Associate Editor for
Production Operations junior James M. Nix will serve the role
as editor-in-chief this summer and next fall.
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James M. Nix, a senior
journalism major, has been selected as J. Adam Bennett’s successor
as editor-in-chief of The Appalachian for the 2003-04 academic year
by Vice Chancellor for Student Development Gregory S. Blimling.
“The most valuable experiences of my college career have been
in [the student publications] office,” Nix said Saturday.
“I am very pleased with James as editor-in-chief. He is well
qualified and constantly learning new skills to help with this job,”
Director of Student Publications David W. Freeman said Monday.
Nix started on staff as a freshman in the fall of 2000 covering
club and intramural sports. |
Since
then he has filled the positions of sports writer and summer editor-in-chief.
He is currently the associate editor for production operations.
“This is what I really enjoy doing.” Nix said.
Nix, originally from Lawrenceville, Ga., moved to Holly Springs
prior to his sophomore year in high school. He was introduced to
the field of journalism his senior year when he joined Fuquay-Varina
High School’s newspaper, The Bengal, as a sports writer.
As a member of The Bengal staff, Nix also covered entertainment
and hard news and took his own photographs. In less than a semester
he became photo editor.
Nix’s first big story as a part of The Appalachian, which really
sparked his interest in journalism, was when Appalachian safety
Corey Hall was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the spring of 2001.
He had to track him down and eventually was able to interview Hall
while he was working out on a stationary bike at Owens Field House,
Nix said.
Nix said when covering football games, he is in the press box beside
journalists from The Winston-Salem Journal and The Charlotte Observer.
He said he does not feel like a student but considers himself a
professional journalist.
Next year, when Nix is editor-in-chief, he said he would still like
to cover some sporting events himself and anything else that needs
to be covered.
Nix would like to continue the tradition of excellence the paper
showed this year.
“I have a great respect for the previous two editors and the
work they’ve done. Everything seems to be gradually getting
better,” Nix said.
Nix said one of his goals for next year is to work on the communication
between everyone on the staff. He wants everyone to understand what
is going on with each other and with their articles.
“I really think we need to bring the writers and photographers
together throughout all the beats,” he said
“This is the student’s paper and for over a decade this
paper has been one of the best in the country,” Freeman said.
Freeman gave Nix the advice to “be inquisitive, creative and
understanding.”
Working beside Nix next year as the associate editor for news operations
is senior Carrie S. Baker, and senior Jessica D. Hines will be the
associate editor for production operations.
Fall staff applications for The Appalachian are available in the
Office of Student Publications through the end of this week. |
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