» The World welcomes new publisher/editor

By Jessica Musicar, Special to the Umpqua Post COOS BAY — The World newspaper staff welcomed Clark Walworth as the new publisher/editor on Tuesday afternoon.

Walworth, a native Oregonian and University of Oregon journalism graduate, has spent the past four years as the top editor of Wyoming’s Casper Star-Tribune and has high hopes for the South Coast publication. In the coming weeks, the new publisher/editor said he hopes to meet a lot of advertisers, movers and shakers in the community and a lot of readers.

“I’m here to find out what The World can do for the community and then get it done.”

Walworth said he grew up in Milwaukie, but has not lived in Oregon since 1983. However, he and his wife, Catherine Walworth, make an almost yearly pilgrimage to the Oregon Coast.

“It’s a place I’ve loved all my life and wanted to live,” Walworth said.

When he learned The World had been purchased by Lee Enterprises, “I thought, ‘Gee, that would be a great place to work. I never expected the opportunity to actually do it.” The 51-year-old said he plans to emphasize three fundamental goals at The World and its weekly papers the Bandon Western World and the Umpqua Post. These include focusing on local news and advertisements “to make life in our community better every day of the week;” fairness in dealings with advertisers, subscribers and one another; and teamwork to make The World a great newspaper as well as a financial success.

Nathan Bekke, a regional executive for Lee Enterprises Inc. and the publisher of the Casper Star-Tribune, said Walworth will be a terrific leader and a tremendous asset to The World.

“Your gain is my loss,” Bekke told the group.

A self-proclaimed jack-of-all-trades, Walworth has worked as a reporter, a copy editor, a page designer, an editorial writer and an editor, which he has done since 1991 — first in Twin Falls, Idaho, and then with the Casper Star-Tribune. He replaced Managing Editor Kathy Erickson and Publisher Janet Geary.

Answering questions from the staff about the Internet and its role among newspaper publications, Walworth said it’s an essential informational tool.

“We have to be an information company, not just an ink-on-paper company,” he said. Bekke added that while Walworth led the Casper Star-Tribune, the Wyoming Press Association named its Web site the best newspaper site in Wyoming.  

In addition to his work in journalism, Walworth enjoys playing the guitar and woodworking.

“I’m a second-rate amateur carpenter and a third-rate amateur guitar player,” he said.

 He has two step-daughters and four grandchildren.

Walworth said he is excited about his new position, as it will be an opportunity to broaden his responsibilities and to serve the community in a variety of different ways.

“If you have an opportunity like that on the Oregon Coast, what else can you ask for?” he said.

The World is the only daily newspaper published on Oregon’s South Coast and the only daily newspaper serving the region exclusively. The World serves more households than the total of all other newspapers delivered on the South Coast combined. Its direct lineage dates back to The Coast Mail, first published in 1878.

Bandon Western World, a weekly newspaper 25 miles south of Coos Bay, has been a division of The World since 2003. The Umpqua Post, a weekly newspaper 25 miles to the north of Coos Bay, has been a division since 2004.

The World has been part of Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (NYSE: LEE) since 2005. Lee is among the country’s leading publishing companies, operating 55 daily newspapers and online sites, along with more than 300 non-daily publications, in 23 states.

Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (NYSE: LEE),  is a premier publisher of local news, information and advertising in primarily midsize markets, with 50 daily newspapers and a joint interest in four others, rapidly growing online sites and more than 300 weekly newspapers and specialty publications in 23 states. Lee’s newspapers have circulation of 1.6 million daily and 1.9 million Sunday, reaching more than four million readers daily. Lee’s online sites attract 12 million unique visitors monthly, and Lee’s weekly publications have distribution of more than 4.5 million households. Lee’s other newspaper markets include St. Louis, Mo.; Lincoln, Neb.; Madison, Wis.; Davenport, Iowa; Billings, Mont.; Bloomington, Ill.; and Tucson, Ariz. For more information about Lee, those interested can visit http://www.lee.net.