Beacon Journal appoints managing editor

Here are the headlines:

Beacon Journal appoints managing editor

Doug Oplinger, a 37-year veteran, named to news post; Patrick McManamon takes over as sports columnist

Here is the complete story as best told by Betty LinFisher:

By Betty Lin-Fisher Beacon Journal business writer
Doug Oplinger, a 37-year veteran of the Akron Beacon Journal, was named managing editor of the newspaper Thursday.

Editor Bruce Winges told the newsroom staff that Oplinger ''brings a wealth of experience.''

''Doug's enthusiasm is legendary and his knowledge of this community is deep,'' Winges said.

Oplinger, 56, who started at the Beacon Journal as a freelance stringer in 1970, has held a variety of newsroom roles, including reporter, business news editor, features editor, assistant metro editor and region editor.

Oplinger, a Springfield Township native, also participated in coverage that brought two Pulitzer Prizes to the Beacon Journal.

Winges said he and Oplinger, a graduate of the University of Akron who earned a master's degree at Northwestern University, will run the newsroom together.

Oplinger told the staff that the Beacon Journal is a ''fun place, full of artists, craftsmen and people who care about what they do.'' Oplinger said he has a passion for journalism and said his mission is to inform, entertain and inspire readers to be an active part of the community.

Oplinger lives in Green with his wife, Diane, and daughter, Jaclyn, a Green High School junior. He also has two grown children, Danielle and Justin.

Winges also announced that Patrick McManamon, a Lakewood native, would become the Beacon Journal's new sports columnist. Current columnist Terry Pluto announced

earlier this week he accepted a similar position with the Plain Dealer in Cleveland.

Winges said that while Pluto's departure is a loss, he has been impressed with McManamon's understanding of Northeast Ohio sports, his sound reporting and writing skills.

McManamon joined the Beacon Journal in 1998 and currently covers the Browns and pro football. Reporter Marla Ridenour will now cover the Browns and George Thomas will cover Ohio State University.

McManamon's column will begin in the coming weeks.

McManamon, who previously covered the Miami Dolphins and worked in Scripps-Howard's Washington, D.C., sports bureau, said he would not try to replace Pluto.

''There's only one Terry Pluto. You don't try to be Terry Pluto. He's a special guy and a special writer. I will just try to bring my insight in an offbeat way of looking at things. I'll offer my opinion and see if people agree with it,'' he said.

McManamon is the father of 11-year-old twin daughters, Janie and Elizabeth.

Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@ thebeaconjournal.com.

[The Beacon Journal,, Akron, OH, Friday, August 17, 2007, page C7, col. 3]

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