The Republic (Columbus) has announced changes in management of the editorial department.
Tom Jekel, a career journalist who has served in several managerial roles in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio, recently began his duties as editor of The Republic.
Scarlett Syse, who started at the Daily Journal (Franklin) in 1999, has assumed the newly created role of group editor over The Republic, the Daily Journal, the Brown County Democrat (Nashville) and The Tribune (Seymour).
Jekel, who most recently served as publisher and editor of The Times-Reporter in New Philadelphia, Ohio, has spent much of his career in central Indiana, beginning as editor of the Noblesville Ledger and Topics Newspapers (Indianapolis) from 1993 to 2001.
He was named general manager in 2001 and in 2006 was promoted to general manager/community newspapers for Star Media in Indianapolis, parent company of the Noblesville operation.
While Jekel led the Noblesville Ledger, the Hoosier State Press Association Foundation recognized it as a state Blue Ribbon newspaper.
In 1999, he served as president of the Indiana Associated Press Managing Editors Association and was on the board of directors for 10 years.
Prior to his work at Noblesville he was assistant managing editor at the Lansing State Journal in Michigan.
He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a major in journalism.
Syse led the Daily Journal through significant changes and community events and issues, including the flood of 2008.
Under her leadership, the paper won the coveted Blue Ribbon, the top prize among Indiana newspapers of all circulation sizes.
Her staff has won numerous writing, design and journalism excellence awards, including honors for investigative reporting and community service.
Syse served as the Daily Journal online editor for a year before being named editor in September 2000.
She has nearly 30 years of newspaper experience, having worked as a reporter, city editor and editor. From 1985 to 1999, she worked at The Shelbyville News, serving as editor from July 1993 to November 1999.
She graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee.
