The Paper promotes Angela Copeland to managing editor

Responding to subscription and editorial growth and emerging staff increases, Angela Copeland has been promoted to managing editor of The Paper, a new position, effective Feb. 1, 2024.

Copeland is currently editor of The Paper’s popular A&E section. She joined The Paper’s staff in December 2022  as education reporter. She will report to Editor Bill Poteat.

As managing editor, Copeland will work with Poteat in the planning and managing of The Paper’s news and advertising budgets and deadlines for both the print and digital editions.

"Being on the team bringing comprehensive local news back to Burke County has been the most fulfilling role of my career," Copeland said. "We will continue to ensure our coverage is a reflection of this diverse county."

She will assist in staff supervision, content development, and layout and design processes, ensuring that The Paper’s exacting standards of quality and journalistic integrity remain consistent.

“Copeland’s promotion to the newly created position of managing editor is part of a long-term strategy to ensure longevity of The Paper’s growing presence in Burke County,” said Allen VanNoppen, Publisher of The Paper. “It is another important step to protect the caliber of our local news coverage in Burke County.”

Copeland will continue to oversee the A&E section until May 2024, at which time additional reporting staff will be in place, VanNoppen said. 

A&E debuted in April 2023, three months after The Paper’s Feb. 4, 2023 launch. 

 “Angela recognized early on that The Paper could be uniquely strengthened with a section devoted exclusively to events, entertainment, activities, arts, and other happenings in Burke County,” VanNoppen said.

 “She proposed the A&E section. She developed the concept front to back. She worked hand-in-hand with designers to develop the A&E brand, built the content structure, and contracted with photographers and contributing writers,” VanNoppen added.

“The success and popularity of A&E was a central reason The Paper expanded to four sections weekly,” VanNoppen said. “Angela’s oversight of story budgets, deadlines, editing, coordination with contributors and page designers, all the while generating a tremendous amount of bylined copy, is the reason A&E has emerged so important to The Paper and its readers.”

Copeland’s fondness for good food and drink led to the development of the Paper Plate, an A&E  segment devoted to all things culinary, including restaurant reviews, contests, and recipes.

A South Carolina native, Copeland holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Auburn University and a master’s degree in English from Troy University. 

Her professional career began in Alabama, working as a reporter at the Montgomery Advertiser and public affairs host for the regional NPR network before leading the public information office for Montgomery Public Schools.

In 2022 she and her husband, Marshall, moved to Burke County from Texas. Before the Lone Star State, she lived in Colorado where she was a reporter and editor for the Rocky Mountain News's YourHub.com, then in community relations and economic development for the municipality of Castle Rock.

Bill Poteat is editor of The Paper. He may be reached at 828-445-8595 or via email at bill@thepaper.media.