Biz columnist to become editorial page editor in Spokane

Bert Caldwell, a business columnist and reporter for the Spokane Spokesman-Review, will become editorial page editor for the paper, according to a story on its website.

The story states, “The position is responsible for overseeing The Spokesman-Review’s opinion pages and, in concert with Cowles and Associate Editor Gary Crooks, developing the news company’s editorial stance on community issues. The editorial page editor reports directly to Cowles.

“Caldwell, 61, said that despite a digital transformation under way in the journalism industry, the role of the editorial page hasn’t diminished. ‘I think the community expects the newspaper to take a position on the issues, not necessarily as the only answer, but as a marker that stimulates more debate,’ he said.

“He joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984 from the Miles City (Mont.) Star, where he was managing editor and editorial writer. As a reporter and columnist in Spokane, Caldwell has focused on utilities, financial institutions and transportation, ‘all of which touch on significant public policy issues,’ Cowles noted.”

Read more here.