Marcus Hibdon, the new city editor at the Free Lance, is a jack
of all trades. At his previous publication, he added delivering
newspapers and even painting the office to the list of typical
editors’ duties.
Marcus Hibdon, the new city editor at the Free Lance, is a jack of all trades. At his previous publication, he added delivering newspapers and even painting the office to the list of typical editors’ duties.
“You could see the excitement that he feels about community news,” said Stephen Staloch, publisher of the Free Lance. “He was doing it all in Montana.”
Hibdon, 26, was editor of two newspapers, the Lone Peak Lookout in Big Sky and the West Yellowstone News, as well as Big Sky magazine. At the Lone Peak Lookout, he did everything from writing hard news to shooting photographs and designing pages.
“That’s just the nature of a small publication,” he said.
During his two-year tenure at the Lookout, he won several awards for writing, design and photography from the Montana Newspaper Association.
He is also particularly proud of launching Big Sky magazine, which is filled with regional feature stories and published semiannually.
“People loved the magazine,” Hibdon said. “And it’s now something that the community of Big Sky is going to have forever.”
Hibdon took over as city editor at the Free Lance on Monday and is optimistic about making a similar lasting impression.
“I see the Free Lance as a newspaper with unlimited potential, in an area with a lot of growth and change that always makes for good news,” he said. “I’m excited about working with this staff. I think they’re all dedicated and capable journalists who can make this a publication that Hollister can be excited about reading each morning.”
Hibdon’s duties no longer include delivering the paper, although he said it was a good way to interact with readers and gauge feedback. Instead, he will be managing a team of reporters and planning the content of each daily issue of the Free Lance.
“A newspaper should really be a reflection of what the audience wants to read and the issues they care about; not just what editors think makes great news,” Hibdon said.
Hibdon’s experience in Montana will be an asset.
“There are issues in his part of the world, where he came from that are much like what Hollister is experiencing – growth issues,” Staloch said. “It’s a heavy ranch area where he was at. I think he’ll have more of a connection with the community because of where he was at.”
Hibdon graduated from high school in Great Falls, Mont., with a strong knowledge of journalism. He went on to attend Montana State University at Bozeman and majored in English literature. He said he attended MSU at Bozeman because the university, despite its lack of a journalism department, has an excellent school paper with a circulation of 7,000 and allowed for hands-on experience at a young age. Hibdon spent his final three years of college as the publication’s editor managing a team of six editors and numerous reporters.
Hibdon looks forward to taking advantage of some of the outdoor activities California offers. He enjoys whitewater kayaking, whether it’s on smooth waters or raging rapids. He also looks forward to sailing in the San Francisco Bay and hiking at the Pinnacles National Monument.
