Brian DeNeal selected to lead Daily Register/Daily Journal as new editor
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Gatehouse Media has named Brian DeNeal Daily Register/Daily Journal managing editor.
DeNeal has been a staff writer for the newspaper since July, 1999, covering the police beat, forest issues, school boards, writing features and performing other duties of a small town newspaper, reporting on Saline County and the surrounding region.
DeNeal will continue writing his Thursday column, "From the Overhang," and his blog, "Trails and Tales." He will also continue writing for the newspaper while directing the editorial staff.
Prior to taking the staff writer position, DeNeal worked briefly in Sarasota, Fla., and at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah before returning to college to complete his bachelor of arts degree. DeNeal majored in English, minored in philosophy and at that time was a founder and bass guitar player in the popular Southern Illinois Americana band, The Woodbox Gang.
Since he began working for the newspaper DeNeal has lived at various times in Harrisburg, Eldorado and at his current location in the Rudement area.
DeNeal's wife, as of April 15, 2011, is Vicky DeNeal who moved to the area from Owensboro, Ky., and teaches at the Earl C. Clements Job Corps in Morganfield, Ky.
DeNeal serves on the board of directors of the River to River Trail Society -- the trail that spans Southern Illinois. He leads hiking excursions for the society in the fall and spring and maintains a section of the trail at Max Creek. Many people throughout the region have joined the group for DeNeal's Halloween night hikes to Max Creek and shared tales of the otherworldly.
DeNeal assumes editorship of the Daily Register/Daily Journal at a time of transition in the industry and is confident in the newspaper staff as they adapt to new ways to cover our region.
"I am excited to have Brian as our managing editor. He has proven his ability and earned the respect of the community during his years as a reporter. He will be a good leader for our newsroom as we continue to move forward in the digital age," Publisher George Wilson said.
Video for the Web site is an example of one of those changes.
"My title was staff writer, but suddenly I was hearing we were expected to produce videos for our Web site. I was scared at first, because that technology is outside my comfort zone. Now, though, I'm always on the lookout for something interesting to capture on video whether it's dripping icicles or someone saying something poignant at a podium," DeNeal said.
DeNeal knows there are more changes to the industry on the horizon and is looking forward to seeing what lies beyond the next bend.
"Whether its a winding trail in Hardin County or a meandering creek, that anticipation of the next view keeps you moving," DeNeal said.