A Home News Enterprises editor has been named editor of the year in a nationwide contest.
Scarlett Syse, former editor of the Daily Journal (Franklin), has won the award from the Local Media Association. She was selected among editors of newspapers of all sizes across the country.
Syse is now group editor of four publications for HNE, the Daily Journal’s parent company.
The award honors an editor who has strong management skills, leads readership initiatives and demonstrates community involvement, innovation and a commitment to quality journalism.
Daily Journal reporters, editors and photographers also received several awards, including the top honor for community service, in the Local Media Association Editorial Contest. The association is a non-profit, professional trade association for more than 2,000 suburban and community newspapers.
HNE group Publisher Chuck Wells nominated Syse for the award.
In his letter to judges, Wells wrote that Syse exemplifies what the company wants from editors and staff.
“We want managers who roll up their sleeves and work directly with our talented staff to create compelling content delivered in an appealing way. Simply put, Scarlett gets it,” Wells wrote.
Syse joined the Daily Journal in 1999 and led the newspaper through significant changes and community events and issues, including the flood of 2008.
Under her leadership, the paper won the coveted Blue Ribbon award from the HSPA Foundation, the top prize among Indiana daily newspapers of all circulation sizes.
She was editor from 2000 to 2012 and in total has 30 years of newspaper experience, having worked as a reporter, city editor and editor.
Syse now helps guide news and design at the Daily Journal, The Republic (Columbus), The Seymour Tribune and the Brown County Democrat as group editor.
A graduate of Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis., she serves on the freedom of information and newsroom seminar committees for the Hoosier State Press Association and is a member of the board of directors of Indiana Associated Press Managing Editors and the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame.
