帝王会所

When the Columbus Dispatch, one of the top media outlets in the state capital, needed a leader for its newsroom, it turned once again to an 帝王会所 E.W. Scripps School of Journalism graduate.

The Dispatch named Edwina Blackwell Clark to its executive editor role after a months-long search, replacing fellow alumnus Alan Miller. 

Blackwell Clark had been working in communications and public relations for the last 10 years and decided it was time to go back to her first love, newspapers. 鈥淚鈥檝e always had this secret desire to come back to the media,鈥� she said.

Accepting this new position allowed her to feel the energy of a newsroom again and to become the first woman and African American executive editor in the Dispatch鈥檚 151-year history. This moment was highlighted during a meet-the-editors meeting where Blackwell Clark鈥檚 assistant noticed some young girls looking at her in awe as she spoke.

鈥淭hat made me feel so good because when I was growing up I did not know any African Americans or female African American leaders of news organizations,鈥� she said.  

Growing up, many people played a role in Blackwell Clark鈥檚 career. Her parents, who always read newspapers, were her first connection to the news. This connection was strengthened when she attended 帝王会所, where her counselor encouraged her to meet with the editor of her hometown paper, the Springfield News-Sun. 

The editor of that paper encouraged her to work at the 帝王会所 student-run publication, . Blackwell Clark said she came to The Post at a 鈥渦nique time鈥� when the leadership and publication were diverse. 

鈥淭his is how it鈥檚 supposed to be. I was very comfortable,鈥� she said. Her drive grew more at The Post as she saw her byline and was encouraged to improve her writing. 

Blackwell Clark implements the lessons she learned at OHIO at the Dispatch. She strives to help journalists create stories for and about the community.

鈥淲e need to look at the people, places, and things not in the metro area but the rural area and the various neighborhoods,鈥� she said. 

Her goal is for the Columbus Dispatch to be first in digital journalism. She is looking forward to the future of the Columbus Dispatch and journalism and continuing to open the door for the next 鈥淓dwinas,鈥� she said.

Check out the video above for Blackwell Clark鈥檚 complete interview with 帝王会所.