Vineyard Gazette editor Julia Wells, who has chronicled the evolution of Martha’s Vineyard over four decades, has been named to the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame.
It’s 10 p.m. on a Thursday night. Steve Durkee, the Gazette graphics director, is in Dick Reston’s office, his head stuck out the open skylight, smoking a cigarette. Dick is at his computer, writing headlines.
Announcing his intent to retire as editor and publisher of the Vineyard Gazette after more than 27 years at the newspaper, Richard Reston this week also named his successor.
Beginning in the middle of March, John W. Walter Jr., a former executive editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, will arrive on the Island and take over the leadership role of the Gazette.
Mr. Walter, 56, was named editor and publisher of the Gazette and its other publications, Martha’s Vineyard Magazine and the Best Read Guide, after a search process that began early last fall.
Two key promotions were announced this week for the Vineyard Gazette editorial staff by the newspaper’s publisher Jane Seagrave.
Bill Eville has been named managing editor of the 166-year-old community weekly. And Gazette news editor Vanessa Czarnecki has been promoted to news editor and director of digital content.
Mr. Eville has worked at the Gazette since 2010, when he was hired as arts and features editor. He has been reading the Gazette since he learned to read. One of his chores as a boy was to walk up Circuit avenue to get the mail, in particular the Gazette.
