Branson Tri-Lakes Daily names managing editor

by Ann Bucy

SBJ Contributing Writer

Meet Wiley Hendrix. He's the new managing editor of the Branson Tri-Lakes Daily News.

As editor, he oversees four reporters, a sports editor and a copy editor. The reporters take care of their own photography.

Even though he's only 26 years old, he comes to the job with previous experience. Prior to becoming editor, he covered the happenings in Hollister, and then covered the Branson beat, writing hard news and feature stories, taking photos and doing layout for a little over a year. Through that work, he made contact with almost everyone in Branson.

Also, "I have an absolutely stupendous staff," he said. "Going in, I was kind of worried about my lack of experience," he said. "But the staff has been wonderful. I couldn't have hoped for anything better. I really couldn't."

In addition to working as a reporter and becoming editor, he worked as a dormitory supervisor at College of the Ozarks.

He found out about C of O after his dad and stepmother came back from their honeymoon. "They were traveling in the area and saw the college. After returning home, they told me about this school and said it's where I should attend college.'

At the time, he said, he was apprehensive about coming to the Ozarks.

"I'd never lived in a rural area before and didn't what it would be like. When I arrived, I remember thinking it was pretty, and it's grown on me ever since."

Hendrix was born in Tokyo, Japan, and has lived all over the United States, a result of his father's career in the military. From kindergarten to twelfth grade, he attended eleven different schools,

A former C of O mascot Bruiser

T. Bobcat Hendrix graduated in 1996 with a bachelor of arts in mass communications with an emphasis in journal-

ism.

He said his interest in journalism came from his mother, who taught journalism in the Air Force for years, and after covering a ball game for a friend. "I enjoyed being there and being creative. I think that was the catalyst for me, the moment I decided to go into journalism."

Hendrix said his main duties now are editing copy and doing the layout. "Currently, I'm not doing a lot of writing, but I may do more once I'm used to the job. I will have a regular column addressing local issues."

His short-term goal is to focus on local news. "We're going to limit the amount of wire stories we use as much as possible. I want this paper to be something tourists will want to pick up so they'll know what's going on in Branson."

In fact, the number of syndicated columns has been reduced in favor of local reporters having their own columns. "People can relate to what our writers are saying more than an issue a syndicated columnist is addressing," Hendrix said.

Putting out a quality newspaper and winning as many state Associated Press awards as possible are his long-term goals, he said.[[In-content Ad]]