Biz editor leaves South Carolina paper; reporter takes buyout

TALKING BIZ NEWS EXCLUSIVE

Sara Svedberg, the business editor of The State newspaper in Columbia, S.C., left the paper and plans to attend law school at the University of South Carolina.

Her last day at the paper was Friday. Svedberg has previously been the assistant business editor at the paper, and she is a South Carolina alumnus. Svedberg said her position was eliminated in the latest round of cuts at the paper.

Andy Shain, the assistant business editor under Svedberg, began overseeing the business news department on Monday.

Also, Chuck Crumbo, a veteran reporter who covered the military, banking and utilities, took a buyout offer and left the paper.

Crumbo spent six months in Afghanistan in 2007 covering the National Guard’s 218th Brigade Combat Team. In February 2008, he returned to continue following the team.

Crumbo is graduate of Ball State University and began his newspaper career more than 30 years ago at the Kokomo Tribune. He subsequently worked for the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, Fort Lauderdale News, Tampa Tribune and Wichita Eagle. He has worked for The State since August 1994. Crumbo spent 20 years as an editor, including two as managing editor of the Frankfort Times, an 8,200-circulation daily that rolled up 31 national and state press association awards under his leadership.  As city editor he directed The State’s award-winning coverage of Susan Smith’s arrest and subsequent trial.