I’d like to introduce myself.
My name is Sam Anderson and I’m the new editor of The Cloverdale Reporter.
It’s an honour to be here with you. In the short time since I’ve joined the team, I’ve already had the great pleasure of meeting many incredible people through reporting, chance meetings on the sidewalk and speaking to the kind folks who drop by our storefront office in downtown Cloverdale.
I’d like to thank Cynthia Dunsmore, our wonderful advertising consultant who works out of the office with me, for being so welcoming. It’s due to her knowledge, patience, sense of humour, and generous gifts of caffeine that I have been able to produce this newspaper over the past month.
The Reporter celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, and I am grateful to be a part of a newspaper with such a strong, long-lasting relationship with its community.
I realize that I have big shoes to fill. Ursula Maxwell-Lewis, our founding editor, is a gracious, intelligent woman with a knack for storytelling. She’s the reason that I am able to write these words to you today. Without her, there simply wouldn’t be a Cloverdale newspaper.
My predecessor, Jennifer Lang, who worked as the editor of The Reporter for seven years, has also shaped this newspaper’s history. She is, by all accounts, an incredibly talented writer and close friend to Cloverdale.
And I do mean by all accounts—I’ve been here for less than a month and I can already see how much of an impact she has had on the community. Whether speaking to a city official with a three-word title or the person in front of me in line for coffee in the morning, I’ve heard nothing but kind words for her. I would like to join everyone in wishing her all the best in her future, wherever that may take her.
At this point, you’re probably wondering who exactly is taking up the role of editor.
Well, I could tell you that I am a graduate of the University of Victoria, where I both majored and minored in writing.
Or I could tell you that I’ve spent the last four years working in libraries and archives, for community organizations and art galleries, and in corporate communications, speaking with people from all walks of life and writing stories in almost every way they can be written.
I could tell you that I love journalism because it lets you ask questions of the world around you.
I will tell what’s most important: I am a writer and a question-asker and it’s fair to say that storytelling—in all of its forms—is an essential part of who I am.
I look forward to discovering more of Cloverdale, and to meeting more of The Reporter’s readers so that, with you, I can help tell the stories of this community.
This paper has a great tradition of fair, accountable, personable reporting in our community, and I plan to carry that forward.
I encourage you to reach out with your stories, tips and letters. You can reach me at the addresses below or at my office at 604-575-2400.
Reach out with stories, tips and letters:
write:
17586 56A Avenue,
Surrey, B.C.
V3S 1G3
email:
editor@cloverdalereporter.com
