Editor & Publisher posted a story this week listing the "top 25 newspapers with the largest increases in print and online audience based on designated market areas."
The Roanoke Times ranked in the Top 10 with a 6.3 percent increase. Check out the details here.
A reader sent me an e-mail recently accusing the newsroom of political bias in our coverage.
He pointed out how Democrat Creigh Deeds' photo ran above Republican Bob McDonnell's photo in a front-page story detailing the gubernatorial candidates plans for improving schools. Because of that placement, only Deeds' photo could be seen when the paper was folded in newspaper racks.
"You see, your liberal slant on everything makes all of us think that something as simple as this has a political reason," he wrote. "My entire Hardee's biscuit and coffee group this morning thought so."
He's right that only Deeds' mugshot -- a newspaper term for a small photo inset in a story -- was visible above the fold.
He's wrong about why it happened. That decision on which candidate's photo to place on top was made based on the candidates last names, not their political leanings.
Megan Schnabel
ROANOKE, Va. (October 5, 2009) — Megan Schnabel has been named editor of the Blue Ridge Business Journal (BRBJ), effective October 19.
Schnabel currently is a metro team leader for The Roanoke Times, owner of the BRBJ, with responsibility for coverage of public safety issues, courts and public integrity reporting. She is a 1995 graduate of Northwestern University's journalism school and joined The Roanoke Times as an intern in 1994. She was a business reporter for seven years, covering economic development, workplace issues and technology.
In 2002, Megan was promoted to assistant editor for The Current, gaining experience with the production of a niche tabloid product. In 2004, she joined the metro desk, where as team leader she directed notable coverage of such high-profile stories as the Alfred Dowe expense expenditures, the Henry County sheriff investigation and the federal prosecution of white supremacist Bill White.
In addition, Megan has served as the paper's point person on public records issues and serves as a regional Freedom of Information Act coordinator for the Virginia Press Association. She is also a 2007 graduate of the Batten Leadership Institute program at Hollins University.
The Blue Ridge Business Journal is a free bi-weekly business publication for the Southwest Virginia region, with nearly 16,000 subscribers.
