New face moves into the broom closet

As some of you may have experienced, the editor's office is a small one, with no windows, presumably to keep the editor from staring into space for countless hours with the door closed. I have jokingly called it a misused broom closet on more than one occasion and now that I am working in it, I am still inclined to agree with my earlier assessment. But it is part of the newsroom, a newsroom that has been working tirelessly since I first entered the broom closet for my interview.

This newsroom is a bustling and ever-changing place to work. Assignments change at the drop of a hat, members of the community bring in story ideas, people are constantly moving, working and discussing the next big event.

These changes can make for some harrowing experiences from time to time but more often than not they just manage to keep days interesting and quickly moving.

The staff of the Columbia Basin Herald has become one less to share the experiences of the newsroom with.

Our managing editor Erin Stuber has flown the coop for another adventure.

Her departure does not mean the CBH will be less open to your suggestions or your opinions.

In fact, we in the newsroom will continue to welcome calls, letters and visits from community members alerting us to news stories and goings on in the Basin.

I have been entrusted with the keys to the newsroom until another managing editor can be found and until such time I will work diligently to continue to bring you the best news coverage possible.

I began work at the Columbia Basin Herald a year ago in March, working as a jack of all trades in the newsroom; dabbling in data entry, arts and entertainment reporting and sports reporting. As time passed, I was given the opportunity to take over the sports editor position, a position that I have held down since last September.

Now, I will be straddling the space between the sports desk and the editor's office.

I have been given a trial by fire over the past week and have diligently tried to maintain the high quality of work introduced under Erin's management.

Pam Robel is the sports and acting editor of the Columbia Basin Herald. She can be reached via telephone at (509) 765-4561 or via e-mail at editor@columbiabasinherald.com