The Recorder welcomes new editor Charles Whisnand
The Porterville Recorder has made some changes to it’s office staff, and the most notable is a change in the newspaper’s editor. Coming into the position with years of experience and leadership is Charles Whisnand.
Whisnand grew up in the Porterville area and graduated from Strathmore High School in 1984. He took his love for sports and writing to the University of Southern California, where he received a degree in Sports Information.
Whisnand returned to Porterville and picked up a job at The Recorder in 1989 working as an education reporter. In 1994, he was promoted to the position of Sports Editor until 2000. Whisnand uprooted his life and moved out to Carson City, Nev. in 2000, where he landed a Sports Editor position at the Nevada Appeal. In 2010, Whisnand returned to The Recorder as the Sports Editor, and was named the Managing Editor in 2013. Whisnand left The Recorder in 2014, to return to Carson City to work as the assistant editor at the newspaper there. He’s now back with The Recorder, working as the Editor.
“This is a community newspaper,” said Whisnand. “I love Porterville. I grew up in Strathmore but Porterville is my hometown, my area. I’ve always considered Porterville a sleeping giant. I don’t think Porterville really knows how great of a community it can really be. The people here are outstanding. I have a lot of friends here, family here, so it’s just a great community.”
Whisnand has his eyes set on bringing local news to the community on a daily basis. Through his leadership and experience, Whisnand knows he can push his newsroom staff to work harder, smarter, and more locally.
“The number one goal right now is that the front page, with a few exceptions when it comes to major national news, is completely local,” said Whisnand. “That’s the main goal right now, and it’s going to happen. It’s going to happen on a regular basis in a short amount of time.”
His overall goal for the paper is to see it be successful, and to keep the community steadily updated on the happening of Porterville and Tulare County.
“My goal for the newspaper is for it to be a community newspaper,” said Whisnand. “We understand that we are a print product and a website. We want to put up breaking news on the website as soon as possible. We want to do everything, you know. We want to provide as much as we can for people, but the main thing is that we are a community paper. We’re going to stress the local. We want to be a reflection of the community. My goal is that when people want to find out about Porterville, the first thing they do is go to The Porterville Recorder to find out because that’s the best source. That’s the best reflection of what the community really is.”
Whisnand began his newest journey with The Recorder on Monday, July 1, and has made quite an impression on his staff and The Recorder’s publisher Bill Parsons.
“We are pleased to have someone of Charles’ experience join our staff,” said Parsons. “It is especially nice that Charles could come back to The Recorder as editor after spending a number of years as a sports writer and sports editor. We are excited about the things that Charles will bring to the paper, including continuing the tradition of keeping the front page about the local community.”
Parsons encourages the community to take a trip to The Recorder office and meet Whisnand.
“We hope our readers will stop by and meet Charles and get to know him,” said Parsons. “He will be out in the community visiting with the local civic clubs and other events in the coming weeks. Please make Charles feel welcome in his return to Porterville.”
As for Whisnand, the possibilities are countless and the future is looking bright. He is thrilled to be welcomed back into the community he grew up in, and is enthusiastic as to where this new chapter will take him.
“I’m really excited,” said Whisnand. “This a great chance and opportunity for me. I’ve tried doing other things, other jobs, but pretty much all my life I’ve wanted to work for a newspaper. This is really all I know how to do. This is all I want to do. I’m just really excited for the opportunity to come back home and reconnect with all the people I know, and put out the best product that we could possibly put out.”
On Wednesday, July 10, The Recorder will be hosting a reception for Whisnand from 3 to 6 p.m. The public is encouraged to stop by The Recorder office at 115 E. Oak Avenue during that time to meet and greet the new editor.
This also provides the perfect opportunity to pick up a copy of “A Place Called Home” the book and have it signed by the publisher Bill Parsons! It’s really a nice collection of pictures and stories about Porterville and Tulare County. The book makes a great gift for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and more. The books are $34.99, plus tax. We hope to see you all there!