The Minnesota Daily’s Board of Directors elected a new Office of the Publisher on Thursday night, after interviewing candidates and deliberating for more than six hours.

The 13-member board named Todd Milbourn as editor in chief, Shanna Orr as president and Joseph McKenzie as business manager. The three positions are responsible for managing the newspaper’s day-to-day operations.

Mike Wereschagin, outgoing editor in chief and board member, said he is confident in the leadership abilities of the newly elected office-holders.

“These three will keep the newspaper moving onto bigger and better things,” Wereschagin said.

Milbourn said his plans include intensifying the Daily’s focus on issues surrounding the University community and campus.

“The Daily will really concentrate on the administration, on the regents and on the student body,” Milbourn said. “There will be an excitement and passion about doing important journalism for the University community.”

He said he aims to re-energize the newspaper’s arts coverage and aggressively focus on athletics issues.

Orr and McKenzie said they want to see the Daily provide more training opportunities in business-related fields and increased community service.

“I feel really lucky to have an opportunity to serve an organization that provides a service to the community,” Orr said.

All three have experience working at the Daily.

The current Office of the Publisher and Daily board members said the decisions were difficult, but they felt they picked the three most qualified candidates.

President Ben Exley, business manager Justin Erickson, and Wereschagin said they chose candidates based on their leadership abilities and vision for the future of the paper.

The three also said an ability to get along with others was a key decision factor.

“The Office works together every day and if disagreements get in the way, the paper won’t function,” Exley said.

The Office of the Publisher
members serve one-year terms, which begin May 28.

“The Daily has a proud tradition of doing some incredible work,” Milbourn said. “Hopefully, we will put out papers worthy of that proud tradition.”

Brad Unangst welcomes comments at [email protected]