Easterling is new managing editor at Montrose Daily Press

MONTROSE — The Montrose Daily Press welcomes Mike Easterling as its new managing editor.

Easterling, who now covers multiple beats at the 32,000-circulation Urban Tulsa Weekly in Tulsa, Okla., begins his duties here July 11.

"We are very excited to welcome Mike Easterling to our team at the Montrose Daily Press," said Francis Wick, Daily Press publisher.

"His enthusiasm for the Southwest and local journalism, coupled with his experience as a writer and editor, offered an excellent fit for our team moving forward. Mike will bring the Press' readers a product that fosters community involvement and discourse."

Easterling formerly worked in New Mexico. He said he is excited to return to the southern Rockies, and chose Montrose for its quality of life.

"I've lived a lot of places and from what I've seen, the best place to live is the Southern Rockies," he said. "It was always my intention to get back. I'm glad that happened sooner, rather than later."

Easterling also said Montrose residents have "a real sense of ownership" in the paper, and that this is a tremendous advantage.

"My intent is to provide people with a product that's a good reflection, and to tell their stories in a way that's meaningful to them," he said.

Easterling studied news communication at the University of Oklahoma, and began his journalism career as an intern with Sports Illustrated in 1983, as part of the American Society of Magazine Editors internship program.

Since then, he has obtained an impressive array of experience, working as sports editor for the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise in Bartlesville, Okla., and as editor of the Oklahoma Gazette in Oklahoma City, — that state's largest weekly newspaper.

From there, he went to the Albuquerque Journal North, in Santa Fe, where he was city editor for the Journal's northern bureau. During his tenure there, Easterling, a home-brewing aficionado, wrote a beer column titled "Una Cerveza Mas."

He joined the Urban Tulsa Weekly in 2009, where he covered city and state government, business, education, religion and sports.

His works have also appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, the Austin Chronicle, and other publications.

"I have covered stories, large and small. I have always placed a great emphasis, not just on reporting, but on storytelling," said Easterling.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for the Montrose Daily Press and its new leadership to receive feedback regarding what the Press can do better to serve our readership," Wick said.

"Ultimately, we want to assist in stewarding the values and direction of the community."