For months through the pandemic, Frank X. Mullen didn’t simply work for the Reno Information & Assessment; he was the Reno Information & Assessment.
In Might 2020, the RN&R revealed seven items on-line. Three of them had been by Frank.
In June 2020, the RN&R revealed 14 items on-line. Eleven of them had been by Frank.
In July 2020, the RN&R revealed 12 items on-line. All of them had been by Frank.
In August 2020, the RN&R revealed 15 items on-line. Fourteen of them had been by Frank.
This continued nicely into 2021, when he lastly acquired a little assist. And it’s not like Frank was phoning it in; many of those items had been newsy, in-depth, exhaustively reported items. A few them, from August 2021, on the Stewart Indian Faculty’s unmarked graves, even received second place within the investigative reporting class of the Affiliation of Different Newsmedia’s annual awards—a nationwide journalism contest.
With out Frank X. Mullen, it’s nearly sure that this newspaper wouldn’t exist proper now.
When my firm acquired the paper in January 2022, Frank instructed me that, in some unspecified time in the future, he was going to wish to step again from being the editor. He had a guide to write down; he needed to get again to Chautauqua; he by no means supposed to be working the RN&R for so long as he had been; etcetera. I instructed him I understood, and to only let me know when that point got here.
Then, nicely, he saved working.
With some semblance of a contract price range restored, he began discovering writers to assist rebuild the information part. He labored tirelessly to assist get us again into print, even volunteering to ship papers if wanted. And he saved reporting—profitable two Affiliation of Different Newsmedia awards for his 2022 work. Oh, and he wrote our first 10 (!) print-edition cowl tales after our return (with a one-month break for Better of Northern Nevada a 12 months in the past).
In the meantime, he saved mentioning his want to step again. I saved telling him to offer me an finish date. He mentioned he would; then he saved working. It acquired to the purpose the place I started to surprise if he was ever really going to offer me an finish date. A number of months in the past, he lastly did: He mentioned he’d keep on via the Better of Northern Nevada problem, and that, as editor, can be that.
Then … he saved working—by no means slowing down, as his just-published story on Truckee Meadows Group School exhibits.
His final official day as editor was yesterday, Sept. 8. He now has the title of editor at giant (“however not ‘giant editor,’” he clarified once I advised the title). His writing and reporting will stay a distinguished a part of the Reno Information & Assessment, I’m elated to say.
When Frank lastly gave me his finish date, and I began pondering who the RN&R’s subsequent managing editor could possibly be, one, and just one, title got here to thoughts. I provided her the gig—and I used to be each elated and relieved she mentioned sure.
On Monday, Kris Vagner will turn into the RN&R’s managing editor. She’s a former RN&R arts editor, and she or he’s the founder and editor of Double Scoop, a nonprofit on-line information group that really is “Nevada’s go-to supply for visible arts information, commentary and occasions,” as the web site says. (Followers of Double Scoop, by no means concern: We’ve organized issues so Kris can stay with Double Scoop.)
If Kris, she’s wonderful. Her journalism information, integrity and expertise are good for the RN&R. She is aware of Northern Nevada impeccably nicely; she’s a beautiful author; and she or he’s well-versed in each digital publishing and nonprofit information.
However her most vital qualification is one she shares with Frank and me: She loves the Reno Information & Assessment.
Welcome again, Kris. She could be reached at krisv@renonr.com.