Darel La Prade

Senior VP of New Media

Darel La Prade is a publisher and Sr. VP new media for Independent Newspapers. He started with Independent as a special projects manager and group advertising director for Delmarva in 1996. In 1997, he became VP advertising, a position he held until 2005 when he was named VP operations and in 2006 VP corporate operations. In 2007, he assumed responsibility for the company’s new media operations and in 2010 became publisher of 5 weekly newspapers in Delaware and Maryland. His 30-year newspaper career includes a stint with the Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk where he first worked as a district circulation manager. He also served as an editor, group VP and corporate general manager for Atlantic Publications, Inc., which once published 24 community resort weeklies in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

[DE 0301] - Part 1: Intro and Contribution (6:46)

Darel La Prade, Sr. V.P. of new media, The Delaware State News, says he always “thought newspapers could right wrongs.” And newspapers could “fight on the side of the underdog.” Now he thinks of himself as “Ben Hecht -- without the cynicism.”

[DE 0302] - Part 2: Skills (3:30)

Darel La Prade, Sr. V.P. of new media, The Delaware State News, says people in his kind of job “are going to have to understand the trends.” And also “relate to people much younger than you.”

[DE 0303] - Part 3: Newszap.com (4:44)

Darel La Prade, Sr. V.P. of new media, The Delaware State News, explains The News’ (Independent Newspapers. Inc.) website concept. The News website – Newszap.com – is mainly a platform for free classified ads and community forums: forums that The News’ editors use to take the pulse of their community.