THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 3, 1994 TAG: 9406300224
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 57 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: NAGS HEAD LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
Ronald L. Speer has been named North Carolina editor and general manager for The Virginian-Pilot and The Carolina Coast, beginning July 1.
The general manager position is being created to bring a focus to the newspaper's North Carolina operations, and to better serve subscribers in North Carolina.
``Eastern North Carolina has sometimes been called the sixth city of Hampton Roads because of its strong ties to the Hampton Roads region,'' said Cole C. Campbell, editor of The Virginian-Pilot. ``Ron is going to be in a great position to see how the newspaper can better serve the community.
``We want Ron to sort of clarify our overall business strategy and relationship to the community. He's an excellent community-based journalist.''
In his new position, Speer, who has been the acting North Carolina editor since May 1, will oversee the news, circulation and advertising departments in the newspaper's Nags Head and Elizabeth City offices. Speer also will continue editing and writing a weekly column for the Carolina Coast weekly tabloid.
In 17 years with The Virginian-Pilot and Ledger-Star, Speer has been been a key player in building and sustaining news and editorial operations in the Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach offices.
He coordinated the coverage of a story that won a 1984 Pulitzer prize. He also has been a leader of the overall newsroom as assistant managing editor for the coordinating desk, a business editor, writing coach and most recently community editor-in-chief.
Since Speer joined the North Carolina team in May, he has made great progress in building ties to the community and improving working conditions in the Nags Head office.
Before coming to The Virginian-Pilot, Speer served as a southeastern sports editor for the Associated Press and covered the civil rights movement during the 1960s.
He is a sailor, and in 1992 was part of a crew that sailed a 35-foot boat from Spain to the New World - retracing Columbus' historic voyage of 500 years earlier.
``I'm delighted to become a permanent resident of North Carolina,'' said Speer, who anchored his sailboat off Roanoke Island almost a month ago. ``I hope to be here a long time.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Ronald L. Speer
N.C. Editor, General Manager
by CNB