Edwina Blackwell Clark on why journalism must win | Then What Happened?
Edwina Blackwell Clark has experienced a vibrant and culturally rich city hiding right under the nation's nose her first months as executive editor of The Columbus Dispatch.
During an episode of the "Then What Happened?" podcast, the Springfield native with decades of experience in news said there are many reasons the Cap City should toot its own horn.
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"(Columbus is) growing. It's diverse. it's got a strong business base. The young professionals like it. It's a great place, not just on the business side, but just to live here and be a part of the community," she told "Then What Happened?" podcast host Amelia Robinson. "There's so many things that are going on that people outside Columbus don't even know about."
A former newspaper publisher and reporter, Blackwell Clark was named to her role at the Dispatch in June following a national search.
She is the first woman and person of color to hold the newspaper's top role.
Among other things, she and Robinson discussed were journalism and the important role it must play in drawing people out of their bubbles, the value of representation but also enabling voices and being told you can and doing it.
She says journalism must win in a world filled with political division.
"It is just a critical role that we play in terms of not just being a reflection of the community and the voices of the community, but the whole piece about accountability journalism and making sure the dollars are spent properly," she said. "A lot of people live in an information bubble. What we do is provide some of that broader information so you understand what's happening in the community where you live."
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Then What Happened podcast: Dispatch editor Edwina Blackwell Clark
