Pub Board selects next IDS editor-in-chief

The IU Student Media Board selected junior Brad Zehr as the spring 2010 editor-in-chief of the Indiana Daily Student.

Zehr is a biochemistry major from Fort Wayne and currently serves as managing editor at the IDS.

“To be selected is an honor I take very seriously,” Zehr said. “I plan to uphold the tradition of excellence at the IDS.”

In his application, Zehr mentioned several areas he wanted to improve, including a more dynamic front page as well as more frequent online updates and multimedia.

The board met at 1 p.m. Friday and questioned the candidates – Zehr and senior journalism student Brian Spegele – before meeting behind closed doors to make a final decision.

The board consists of four students from the IDS, three professional representatives, an IU Student Association representative, a representative from the Bloomington Faculty Council, Director of IU Student Media Ron Johnson and the Dean of the School of Journalism Brad Hamm.

As current art director for Inside magazine, Larry Buchanan was one of the IDS student representatives and said the board saw how much Zehr cared about the IDS.

“It was a tough decision because one candidate had such a strong journalism background, and one had such a strong management style,” he said.

Buchanan said the board believed Zehr would be an effective leader and said it was a big deal the board voted for a student with little journalism experience outside the IDS.

“It’s about making this place better,” Buchanan said.