Baumgardner appointed editor in chief for 2008-09

April 7, 2008 —

The Professional Journalistic Practices Committee of SVSU has appointed a new editor in chief of the Valley Vanguard for the fall 2008 and winter 2009 semester.

Alex Baumgardner, a creative writing junior, was selected to replace outgoing editor Aaron Crossen, a history senior.

Baumgardner has worked for the newspaper for over two years, serving in the capacities of staff writer, news editor, and most recently as sports editor.

"Alex has all the qualities and experience necessary to improve the paper," Crossen said. "He works well with the staff, understands the ins and outs of journalism, and most importantly, he has a vision for the product and wants to make the paper as good as possible."

Baumgardner said he has high expectations for the newspaper under his leadership.

"Under the editors I've worked with here in the past, the paper has taken giant strides forward," he said. "With what I've learned from my predecessors, Andy Hoag, Jason Wolverton and most recently Aaron Crossen, I'm confident I, along with the rest of our staff, can keep that momentum going."

Baumgardner's appointment is one of two changes in the newspaper's senior leadership. Justin Engel, a former Vanguard editor and current Saginaw News staff writer was appointed interim adviser in early March. Engel's appointment follows the resignation of Kathie Marchlewski-Bachleda who served as the paper's adviser for most of 2007 until resigning in February.

"I'm very excited - both about where the paper is today and where I see it going under Alex," Engel said. "I've been involved in college newspapers for almost 10 years and I know how to gauge a good period from a bad stretch in a publication's life. The Vanguard is going to be in good shape for a long time now."

Under Crossen, the newspaper underwent an internal reorganization that led to the hiring of several new editors, of which Baumgardner was one.

"Hiring Alex was one of my wisest decisions," Crossen said. "He had all the tools back then, and he's only improved since. I'm as excited about his first issue as I was about mine."

Baumgardner said his experience as sports editor helped prepare him for the role of editor in chief.

"Working in sports is one of the more intense experiences one can have in journalism," he said. "The deadline is always pressing. The experience I've gained in that environment has proven invaluable."

In 2007, the Michigan Press Association recognized the Vanguard as the best collegiate weekly in the state during the fall 2005 and winter 2006 semesters. In 2008, the newspaper won several awards for design, photography and writing as part of the MPA's Build a Better Newspaper contest.

First published in 1966, the Vanguard currently publishes weekly during the fall and winter semesters. The newspaper maintains an online presence at svsu.edu/vanguard.