I sure am glad to be in Virginia.
It might have something to do with the trees and gorgeous landscape. It might have something to do with learning about and acclimating to a new home.
Maybe it’s the feeling of relief after completing a cross-country drive. Gripping the steering wheel while staring off into the seemingly infinite horizon through eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska can make a 12-hour day feel like a 30-hour day. That’s probably overselling it.
It definitely has a lot to do with getting back into sports.
As Lee Enterprises’ new Virginia Sports Director I’ll be living and breathing Virginia sports.
My name is Matthew Kiewiet and I am coming to you from Butte, Montana, where I served as managing editor of The Montana Standard for two years and the (Helena, Montana) Independent Record for just over a year. I’ve also been the sports editor and a sports reporter for the Standard and IR, respectively.
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Joining me in this exciting new chapter is my wife, Keely, along with our two dogs, Jack and Elaine.
I learned a lot leading those two exceptional staffs. I learned how to aggressively pursue a story without sacrificing our ethics. I learned how to lean into my strengths, and I learned to own my weaknesses.
I also learned that I am most comfortable holding court in a newsroom’s sports department.
My passion for local sports journalism dates back a little further.
After graduating from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona, I accepted a job at The Bulletin in Bend, Oregon. While working as a sports copy editor, designing the sports section and editing its copy, I learned what’s at the core of local journalism.
During my time with the Bulletin, the Portland Trail Blazers were enjoying the peak years of Damian Lillard and “Dame Time.” The Oregon State Beavers won the College World Series.
It won’t surprise you to know readers ate those stories up, much like they do with UVa, Tech, Commanders, Capitals and Nationals content here in Virginia.
But can you guess which stories they craved – even demanded – just as much?
They wanted to know about Luke Musgrave and the Bend High School Lava Bears. They wanted photos from the Sisters Rodeo and horse racing results from the Crooked River Roundup in Prineville.
It became clear that the most important stories in a given market are not always relevant to a national audience.
The most important stories are about things most important to you, and the people who you, the readers, care about.
The media landscaping is evolving. There are no two ways about it – newsrooms are smaller than they’ve ever been. Neither print nor television journalists are immune to the times.
We can no longer promise a truly all-encompassing coverage approach in our sports section. We can try – and often come close – but we cannot get to everything.
This isn’t new.
We can, however, promise to cover events that resonate with our readers. And we will cover them well.
Part of what I will be tasked with is deploying our outstanding resources as efficiently as possible.
When it comes to reporters and editors here in the Commonwealth, “outstanding” might be an understatement.
During my first few days here, I’ve been in awe – even intimidated at times – at the high-level journalists I now call coworkers.
Now that I’ve met my colleagues, the next thing I’d like to do is sit down with as many of you as I can.
I am based in Richmond but I’ll be hitting the road soon. Stay tuned for announcements about visits to Roanoke, Lynchburg, Charlottesville and Fredericksburg.
While visiting your city or region, I’ll spend an afternoon working at a coffee shop and hope you are able to join me for a conversation.
It’s an open invite.
I want to know what you enjoy reading, watching or listening to, and what you wish we had more of. I want to know what you think we do well, and what you think we could improve upon.
Thank you for reading and subscribing.
See you soon.