Wayne Snow

Managing Editor

Wayne Snow’s job as managing editor comes as the icing on a long career in journalism that began in January 1976. He spent 22 years at the Atlanta Journal & Constitution, where he was at various times a page designer, front-page news editor, politics and government reporter and graphics reporter. He also wrote travel pieces and journeyed to Ukraine in April 2006 to cover the 20th anniversary of the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl. Snow retired from Atlanta in July 2007 and began work in Opelika the following month.

Prior to Atlanta, Snow worked at a variety of newspapers in Georgia and North Carolina and was bureau chief for United Press International in Tallahassee, Fla.

[AL 0201] - Part 1: Introduction and Contribution (5:46)

Wayne Snow, managing editor, The Opelika-Auburn News, says an aptitude test in the 8th grade advised him to become a journalist. At that time, he wasn’t quite sure what a journalist did, but now, he says, “I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else.” As for journalism’s value: “You couldn’t have representative democracy without us,” says Snow.

[AL 0202] - Part 2: Ethics & Content (4:54)

Wayne Snow, managing editor, The Opelika-Auburn News, says everyone at The News is required to sign a corporate ethics policy statement each year, but “if you need a piece of paper to tell you what’s wrong, then you are in trouble.” Snow says he expects his journalists to “conduct themselves in such a way in public that people recognize them as good people.”

[AL 0203] - Part 3: Strategic Changes (6:56)

Wayne Snow, managing editor, The Opelika-Auburn News, says his newspaper’s layout and copy-editing functions have been exported to a remote Media General corporate consolidated editing center (CEC). Snow says the CEC was supposed to free up staff, but “I’ve got almost as many people devoted to page production,” as before. Despite the sincere efforts of the folks at the CEC, “you still have to watch it hard and have people here at night checking it,” says Snow.

[AL 0204] - Part 4: Adaptation & the Future (4:21)

Wayne Snow, managing editor, The Opelika-Auburn News, says change is constant at any newspaper today. Snow tells new employees they “have to be light on their feet.” Snows also tells newcomers, “You have to be prepared to work any hours, any days, any job.” “You need to be versatile and be prepared to work hard, “ he says.