Springfield! Magazine names new editor

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Community newspaper veteran Jim Hamilton is stopping the presses and switching from newspaper publishing to glossy magazine.|ret||ret||tab|

Hamilton, editor and publisher of the weekly Buffalo Reflex for the past 24 years, will become managing editor of Springfield! Magazine, effective Jan. 6.|ret||ret||tab|

The appointment signifies the passing of the torch for Springfield! Magazine editor and publisher Robert Glazier. The 75-year-old Glazier, will "temporarily" remain as publisher.|ret||ret||tab|

"I want (Hamilton) to move as quickly as he can (toward) running the entire operation," Glazier said. "He has the brand of management style that I really sought in whoever was going to be my successor. When you hand the baton over, you have to turn loose of it at the same time."|ret||ret||tab|

Hamilton's absence leaves two vacancies for the Buffalo Reflex, a Community Publishers of Missouri Inc.-owned newspaper. Dave Berry, Community Publishers of Missouri vice president and publisher, will step in as Buffalo Reflex publisher for the short term while he interviews candidates for both positions. He said the editor's chair is the top priority, and it will be filled as soon as possible.|ret||ret||tab|

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From newspaper to magazine|ret||ret||tab|

"I felt like the time was right after almost 25 years in this position to make a career change," Hamilton said. "I'm ready for some new challenges."|ret||ret||tab|

The biggest challenge, he said, will be adjusting to the magazine writing style and its monthly schedule.|ret||ret||tab|

"In the newspaper business, we are always responding to what happens; in the magazine business, it is more going out and creating, figuring out what people are going to be interested in," Hamilton said. "I don't think I'll be able to shed my newspaper instincts very quickly. Working 60 to 90 days out is going to be quite an adjustment when I'm used to working on a few hours in a publication."|ret||ret||tab|

One thing he doesn't plan to shed is his writing. Hamilton plans to continue cranking out copy for his new publication, just as he did with editorial columns in the Reflex.|ret||ret||tab|

Jim Sterling, who owned the Buffalo Reflex from 1979 to 1999, has no doubts Hamilton can make the switch to magazine.|ret||ret||tab|

"He's one of the exceptional writers I've known in my life," said Sterling, who owned three community newspapers, including the Buffalo paper, until selling them to Community Publishers of Missouri in 1999. "I think he will really fit into the magazine world very well where the stories are longer and more feature-oriented."|ret||ret||tab|

Sterling, a long-time community newspaper manager and owner, now serves as a professor at the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia where he is Missouri chair of community newspaper management. |ret||ret||tab|

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Quick reflexes|ret||ret||tab|

With such important personnel changes around the corner, Berry understands the Buffalo Reflex may change; however, he said, it will not be a drastic change.|ret||ret||tab|

"The paper will take on some of the personality of its editor," he said. "Depending on whom we get, I'm sure it will have a little bit of the look and the feel of that individual."|ret||ret||tab|

The Reflex, which began publishing in 1869, has a staff of about 10 and circulation of about 5,000.|ret||ret||tab|

Berry said the paper will have to endure another change in the transfer of long-time Reflex office technician Steve Schibler. Next year, Schibler will be promoted to Web master of all seven Community Publishers of Missouri papers, which are located in Buffalo, Bolivar, Marshfield, Nixa, Ozark, Rogersville and Stockton.|ret||ret||tab|

"The Reflex has a couple of major adjustments to make in personnel, but there is still a very good staff left behind," Berry said. "Those are two big sets of shoes leaving, and we hope to fill them quite adequately."|ret||ret||tab|

However, it won't be easy, Berry said.|ret||ret||tab|

"It is always tough to replace anyone who has been around as long as Jim has been around, but in Jim's case it is many times more difficult," Berry said. "We are in unchartered waters."|ret||ret||tab|

Sterling sees Hamilton's move as a loss to community newspapers, but also to the community of Buffalo.|ret||ret||tab|

"It's more what the community loses with somebody like Jim Hamilton," Sterling said. "In a way I'm sad to see him leave Buffalo but on the other hand, he's ready to make that change. It's a nice challenge for him."|ret||ret||tab|

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