We have some responses to last week's inquiry from Dr. Gary Rice about the youngest-in-charge editor of a California newspaper. Rice's student is not the youngest, but he's among them. Here are our unscientific results:
24: Josh Lopez, editor, Fowler Ensign (Rice's student at Fresno State)
24: Kyle Jorrey (Pepperdine), editor, Simi Valley Acorn (he's now 27 and also oversees the Moorpark Acorn)
23: Sam Richard (CSU Northridge), editor, L.A. Watts Times (he's now 24)
23: Jeramy Gordon (Menlo College), editor and publisher of the Santa Barbara Sound (founded in 2006; he’s now 27)
20: Claudia Elliott (Cal Poly-SLO), editor, Tehachapi News (it was in 1972, reports Elliott, who is now publisher of the Southern Sierra Messenger in Porterville,)
19, 20, 21: Rich Cameron (Fresno State) might have them all beat. Cameron recalls that he did six weeks of summer relief for the editor of the Dinuba Sentinel while in college. Though he worked under the steely eye of Publisher Bob Raison, we're inclined to call it a valid claim (Cameron is now journalism chair and adviser to the Talon Marks at Cerritos College in Norwalk).
Any latecomers to the challenge? Weigh in. Be advised: There are no prizes, and as always, no wagering.
