Daily Bruin editor in chief for 1998-99 appointed
By Daily Bruin Staff
April 20, 1998 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 21, 1998
Daily Bruin editor in chief for 1998-99 appointed
STUDENT MEDIA: Adam Yamaguchi to undertake challenge of
newspaper
By Frances Lee
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
It’s an acknowledgment of hard work, competence and an almost
fanatical devotion to the Daily Bruin to be named its editor in
chief.
Thursday night, by a unanimous vote of the ASUCLA communications
board, Adam Yamaguchi was appointed the Bruin’s 80th leader.
Yamaguchi will officially take over the helm in June.
No one on the Daily Bruin staff was surprised to hear the
announcement.
"I am confident that Adam will grow into a great leader for The
Bruin," said Edina Lekovic, the 1997-1998 editor in chief.
"He has a wide knowledge of the Bruin’s inner workings. Adam’s
dedication to The Bruin – while somewhat unhealthy – will benefit
The Bruin’s readers tremendously," she continued.
Yamaguchi, 19, a second-year student pursuing a communications
studies degree, has worn many hats during his time at the Bruin. He
quickly rose through the ranks, starting as an intern on the Daily
Bruin copy desk in fall 1996 and was soon promoted to the position
of copy editor.
Over the summer, Yamaguchi was hired as a Viewpoint writer and
shortly afterwards became an assistant Viewpoint editor.
"I’m really excited, but at the same time, a little overwhelmed
at the level of responsibility and how much I’m going to be
accountable for," Yamaguchi said. "But in spite of all the
difficulties I may encounter, I’m excited about the possibilities
that lie ahead for us next year."
Staffers who have worked with Yamaguchi in his many capacities
are confident in his ability to lead The Bruin.
"When Adam takes on an assignment, you know he’s going to get
the job done and do it well," said J. Jioni Palmer, Viewpoint
editor and Yamaguchi’s immediate supervisor this year.
Yamaguchi’s "trial by fire," the editor in chief application
process, started late in the winter quarter. He slaved over his
24-page application during spring break and sweated through a staff
endorsement hearing during first week. The official appointment by
the communications board came a week later.
"(Adam’s appointment) bodes well for The Bruin," said Arvli
Ward, student media director. "He’s the kind of editor with the
technical background that’s going to allow us to tweak the
mechanism to achieve our goals.
"I don’t know if there’s a bigger student job on campus," Ward
added.
Among Yamaguchi’s goals for the year: serving as a campus
watchdog, analyzing what is and isn’t being done correctly,
diversifying coverage and striving to make The Bruin a one-stop
paper for the campus community.
"I’m very excited for Adam. He is on the brink of a tremendously
rewarding and enlightening experience – leading a newspaper and
attempting to serve the campus community, while also holding the
university accountable for its actions," Lekovic said.AARON
TOUT/Daily Bruin
Adam Yamaguchi was named editor in chief Thursday.
