Desrosiers to Repository as executive editor

Beacon Journal Metro Editor Rich Desrosiers will become executive editor of the Canton Repository.

Laura Kessel has been serving as interim editor since the February departure of Therese Hayt, who became executive director of the American Society of News Editors in Columbia, Missouri.

Desrosiers, a Stark County resident for 35 years, came to the BJ in 1994 as assistant national editor, became deputy news editor in 1995, news editor in 1996, executive news editor in 1998, Stark Bureau chief in 2000, sports editor in 2006 and, finally, metro editor.

At my request, Rich provided more information:

“John:

“I have been at the Beacon Journal almost 21 years to the day: July 25, 1994 to

July 31 (Friday will be my last day), 2015.

“Before coming to the Beacon Journal (as the assistant national editor), I had been at the Canton Repository as a sportswriter (about 4 years) then as a page designer (nearly 5 years). I designed both A1 and the B1 (metro) pages, plus some inside pages, five days a week -- an assignment that prepared me to help the ABJ transition to full pagination in the 1990s.

“I attended the University of Akron, graduating in 1985 with a BA in Mass Communications.

“The title of my new assignment is ‘executive editor of GateHouse Ohio Media.’ In a nutshell, I will oversee the newsroom operations of the four print/online entities in that group: The Repository, The Massillon Independent, The Dover-New Philadelphia Times-Reporter and The Suburbanite.

 “If you need anything else, please let me know.

 “Thanks for your interest.

 “Rich D”

 This continues the BJ newsroom exodus of managers and underlings. Larry Pantages, at Ol’ Blue Walls since 1972, left in February to become managing editor of the Medina Gazette.

A newsroom that once held 250 employees has shrunk alarmingly to fewer than 60. In 1984 128 of the 754 BJ employees, from the newsroom to the pressroom, had at least 25 years of experience.

Rich's wife, Anne, is a substitute teacher and high school volleyball coach. Their three children, Andrew, Maggie and John, attend the North Canton schools. Rich is a coach with the Canton Akron Penguins youth hockey association.

Jim Porter, the Repository’s publisher, had said the search would be for “a candidate who fits our community and our culture.” That fits Rich like a glove.

Gatehouse owns the Repository and the Massillon Independent.