Emily Russo Miller has been named interim Managing Editor of the Juneau Empire, which became effective Dec. 24.
Miller will fill in for departing Director of Audience/Editor Charles L. Westmoreland until a permanent replacement is named. Westmoreland left the Empire Dec. 23 after more than five years running the Empire’s newsroom. He will remain in Juneau as the Manager of Information and Teleconferencing with the Legislative Affairs Agency, replacing Sue Cotter who retired this month.
“Looking back, I can’t help but feel grateful for all the amazing people I’ve met and those I’ve worked alongside with over the years,” Westmoreland said. “It’s my hope that Emily finds as much fulfillment in the role as I have.”
Miller previously served as deputy editor and before that as the Empire’s cops and courts reporter. She holds a masters in journalism from Columbia University and has won many awards over the years.
The Empire will also say farewell to two reporters, while welcoming a new one.
Sam DeGrave, the Empire’s city reporter, also left the Empire Dec. 23 to accept a reporting position with the Texas Observer in Austin, Texas. General assignment reporter Lisa Phu will leave the Empire Dec. 30 and will begin work in January with the City and Borough of Juneau as its part-time public information officer.
Liz Kellar will join the Empire staff Jan. 2 as a cops and courts reporter. Kellar most recently served as city editor/cops reporter with The Union in Grass Valley, California.
