Two seasoned journalists take over the editorial
responsibilities of the award-winning Hollister Free Lance this
week with plans to continue the newspaper’s 133-year tradition of
focusing on local news.
Hollister – Two seasoned journalists take over the editorial responsibilities of the award-winning Hollister Free Lance this week with plans to continue the newspaper’s 133-year tradition of focusing on local news.
Former Morgan Hill Times Editor Marcus Hibdon will take over as editor for the Free Lance and will be working side-by-side with longtime newsman Dan Fitch at the city desk.
“Dan and Marcus are journalists of impeccable credibility who take their responsibilities seriously and pursue news with great passion.” Free Lance Publisher Steve Staloch said. “That’s important to our readers who have deep roots in their community and look to the Free Lance to provide relevant news that impacts their daily lives. It’s also a rarity to have editors with skills that complement each other’s so well on the same team.”
Hibdon, 28, first found the world of journalism in high school working as a reporter and copy editor for his student newspaper in Great Falls, Mont. After graduation he became the news editor of the Montana State University Exponent, a student newspaper in Bozeman, Mont. Working as an editor and reporter simultaneously, he climbed the ranks to managing editor and editor-in-chief, a position he held for three years until graduating in 2000.
In Montana, Hibdon worked for Big Sky Publishing as the editor of the Lone Peak Lookout and West Yellowstone News where he was recognized with numerous writing and editing awards from the Montana Newspaper Association. He also created Big Sky Magazine, a regional outdoor and lifestyle magazine for southwestern Montana.
“When I first arrived in Hollister almost two years ago to the day, I was amazed at how similar the people were to people I knew in Montana,” he said. “Everyone was friendly and inviting, and made me feel at home. I really didn’t expect that and it instantly shattered any stereotype I had about California. I immediately realized why people care deeply for this area and preserving their way of life.”
Hibdon left the Big Sky state in March of 2004 to join the Hollister Free Lance as the city editor and was part of the team that garnered a second place General Excellence award from the California Newspapers Publishers Association last year. He was promoted last June to the editor position of the Morgan Hill Times.
“I look forward to returning to Hollister,” Hibdon said. “Watching the community develop over the last two years has been interesting. San Benito County has accomplished so much, but many challenges lie ahead and I’m excited to be a part of it again.”
Fitch, 47, began his journalism career in 1985 as a sportswriter for the Lodi News-Sentinel and has since worked at the Watsonville Register-Pajaronian, Gilroy Dispatch and, for 12 years, the Santa Cruz Sentinel. He has been a sportswriter, sports editor, city hall beat reporter, editorial page editor, copy desk chief, film reviewer and features department page designer. He left journalism for three years to serve as operations manager for a factory in Watsonville.
Fitch has lived in Aromas for 18 years and has a daughter, Flannery, who graduated from Anzar High School in 2005.
“San Benito County is one of the most beautiful places on earth,” he said. “There is an incredible diversity of people living here, as well as a diversity of pressures. As city editor of the Free Lance I will do my part to produce stories that reflect that spectrum.”
