By Gregory Favre

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Tim Griggs became addicted at the age of nine.

Addicted to journalism, that is.

Now, 19 years later, he is the relatively new executive editor of the Wilmington, N.C., Star-News, a New York Times regional newspaper. At age 28.

When Tim was in the fourth grade in Pomfret, Md., he was already an editor -- of the school paper, Tiger Beat.

In a column earlier this year, Tim wrote about a story they did back then on James Craik, his elementary school's namesake. Craik was physician general of the U.S. Army and George Washington's doctor.

Griggs serves as executive editor of the Star-News.

"We learned a lot about the man and simply wanted others to do the same," Tim wrote. "The school eventually added 'Dr.' to its official name. The story helped bring about change."

And Tim Griggs was hooked.

After graduating from Virginia Tech, Tim joined the Star-News as a copy editor. And then he started his journey to the top newsroom job, becoming managing editor in his mid-twenties. In 2003, the Newspaper Association of America named him one of the top 20 newspaper employees under 40 in Presstime magazine.

"This is a guy who really gets it and loves it and can make it happen," said former Star-News editor Allen Parsons when Tim was promoted. "He is one of the brightest young editors in America."

Recently, Tim took a break to answer some questions via e-mail about his new job and his outlook on other issues in the business.

What are the biggest lessons you have learned since moving up to executive editor?

Balance. Life, work -- they aren't sprints, they're marathons. I've known this in theory, but have made little progress thus far in my career. It's become clearer just how important it is for me to set the right example and strive for that balance.

Resolve. I've learned a great deal about sticking to my guns, especially with unpopular decisions. That doesn't mean avoiding flexibility, but rather having the will to stand up for what we believe in, even in the face of tough criticism.

For several years early in my career, I was almost always the youngest person in the department. I supervised some folks who were at the paper before I was born, and almost everyone else was older than I. How have you handled this in your own career thus far?

 

It's never been an issue for me. I know I don't have all the answers. I'm not the smartest journalist in the room, nor the most talented, and I certainly don't have the experience to anticipate every situation. I just try to seek out folks with more wisdom whenever possible and make fair decisions. A great friend and mentor, Bill McIlwain, recently turned 80 and speaks often of age. He likes to quote the great Satchel Paige: "Age is a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it don't matter." I don't mind.

You have come along since the emergence of the electronic era. What do you see for the future of the printed newspaper and what changes should be considered?

My crystal ball is a little cloudy, but I don't think the newspaper will be the dominant delivery platform for daily news and information in the future. That being said, I want to be sure the newspaper industry is the dominant provider. I think we'll see a move toward immediacy (specifically with online usage and wireless delivery) during the week and a more relaxing, print product on the weekend. In our shop, the paper lacks a clear day-by-day identity for readers. They may know Wednesday and Sunday are a bit different, but that's about it. The Saturday paper should feel dramatically different than Monday, for example.

 

What do you tell folks on your staff when they read the discouraging news about newspapers?

 

Great question. Most importantly, we talk about how satisfying it will be to all of us when we're part of the solution. I hope that helps foster the desire for, in some cases, radical change in the way we approach things instead of tweaking around the edges.

Do your friends outside of the newsroom read your paper?

 

It's a mixed bag. Some read the paper religiously, but others share the same indifference we're all battling. It's not that they don't enjoy it when they pick it up, but they could live just fine without it. That scares me. Some of that is fighting the guilt factor (i.e., "I only have a few minutes to read and the papers just stack up on me"). We need to fight that by saying, hey, if you only read one part of one story a day, it's OK. And it's still worth 50 cents.

 

You recently hired a managing editor. What qualities do you look for when you hire -- at that level and below?

 

Yes, Julie Martin, the ex-ME in Asheville. She's fabulous. To me, talent is important, but attitude is everything. Everyone we hire must be four things:

• Energetic. Another great mentor, Allen Parsons, says the most important attribute an editor can have is stamina. So true.

• Passionate. I think it's tough to instill that love for journalism, the insatiable desire to get the story. You either have it or you don't.

• Problem solvers. I want to work with people who are solution-oriented, accept responsibility and put the team first.

• Innovators. Good journalists must have not only a comfort with change, but an appetite for it. I look for people who are always looking to build a better mousetrap, so to speak.

If you were starting out today, would you make any choices different from those you have made?

In terms of career choices, no. Specific decisions I've made during my career, sure. But I hope I've learned as much -- or more -- from the bad decisions as the good.

 

What's the biggest joy about being an executive editor?

 

Two things: [The first one is] spending time with readers. I love the direct contact with folks who have strong feelings about our coverage. No matter the concern, I think we can learn something from all feedback. [The other is] seeing anyone on our staff proud of [his or her] accomplishments.

 

What's the biggest headache?

 

Not having the time to be as involved in the daily journalism. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the strategy and business sides a great deal. But there's nothing like the excitement I find in brainstorming about how to approach a story.

 

What are you most proud of so far in your career?

 

No question, I'd say I'm most proud of the people I've hired.

 

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