“Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn’t stop for anybody.”
— Stephen Chbosky, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”
Life doesn’t stop for anybody, and neither does news, nor the industry that covers it. Things are changing at Toledo Free Press, and while that change may initially seem unnerving, it will ultimately be a chance to reflect, refresh and reinvigorate our publication.
Sarah Ottney
After 10 years at the helm, our first and to this point only Editor in Chief is moving on. Michael S. Miller will provide details next week; my job is to introduce our new Editor in Chief, Sarah Ottney.
It was great timing that Sarah was named one of Toledo’s 20 Under 40 leaders on Sept. 30. She is a serious journalist with the enthusiasm for Toledo, heart for philanthropy and mind for news that has characterized Toledo Free Press for 10 years.
Born in Toledo, Ottney graduated as salutatorian of Oak Harbor High School and majored in English and journalism at Ohio Wesleyan University. She served as editor of Ohio Wesleyan’s weekly student newspaper and interned at New York City book publisher Soho Press.
Ottney worked at the daily South Dakota newspaper Aberdeen American News for three years as a reporter and copy editor. She moved back to Ohio for a year of AmeriCorps VISTA service in Toledo with the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks.
Miller hired her at Toledo Free Press in 2010 as a staff writer. She was promoted to Special Sections Editor in 2011 and currently serves as Managing Editor. You have read her work as she reported for Toledo Free Press on assignments from New York City, Washington, D.C., and Germany.
Her awards — in addition to 20 Under 40 — include 2014 Public Children Services Association of Ohio Journalist of the Year. She was also recently honored for Best Arts Profile (2013), Special Section (2013) and Newsmaker Profile (2014) by the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists, competing against writers from the state’s daily newspapers.
She is a graduate of Leadership Toledo’s Class of 2014 and currently serves as volunteer advisory board member for Toledo Streets newspaper. She has previously volunteered with 1Matters, Food for Thought and Toledo-Lucas County Public Library’s Read for Literacy.
Miller has told me, “The tough job isn’t replacing me; Sarah has that covered. The tough part for Sarah will be replacing Sarah.”
We are working on that. But for this week, please join me in welcoming Ottney as Toledo Free Press Editor in Chief and wish her many years of successful news-breaking service. Miller set a very specific tone and defined our first 10 years; now, Ottney has an opportunity to set a series of new traditions.
Thomas F. Pounds is president and publisher of Toledo Free Press. Contact him at tpounds@toledofreepress.com.
