GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Recorder has promoted news editor Shelby Brock to be its new managing editor for local news.
Brock, 28, is a Vermont native, and graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she received a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2016.
Brock began working at the Greenfield Recorder two weeks after graduation as the North County reporter, and found a community of small towns similar to what she was accustomed to growing up in a town of fewer than 7,000 people. She said she was inspired to enter the field while writing for her high school newspaper in St. Albans, Vermont. She lives in Shutesbury with her husband, Roland.
After two years of primarily covering Northfield, Bernardston, Warwick and Leyden, Brock was promoted to features editor and later news editor. As she steps into the role of managing editor, Brock will directly supervise the Recorder’s team of reporters and manage the local news report.
“In a community newsroom, we’re all used to wearing a variety of hats and taking on a lot of responsibilities simultaneously, so the managing editor position is something I feel very prepared for,” Brock said. “After years of wholesome collaboration with an incredible newsroom team, I’m thrilled to dive even deeper with my involvement and help stay the course of what’s been a great journey thus far. I couldn’t ask for a better team to have working beside me.”
“Shelby has a solid understanding of the many facets of the news operation at the Recorder,” said Dan Crowley, Pioneer Valley executive editor. “She’s a hard-working and talented journalist who has the respect of her colleagues in the newsroom, knows Franklin County well, and always has readers’ interests in mind. I look forward to seeing her excel in her new role.”
In other staffing news, the Recorder has hired Assistant Editor Scout Opatut, who will primarily oversee the features coverage at both the Recorder and its sister paper, the Daily Hampshire Gazette.
A New Jersey native, Opatut, 32, studied journalism and philosophy at Emerson College and Fordham University and brings a strong background in the arts and music, writing, editing and social media skills. She moved from Harlem to Northampton in December 2020 when she was hired to assist with a biography of musician Sonny Rollins. She lives in Northampton with her husband, Evan.
“I’m thrilled to join the team at the Recorder and help highlight all the interesting people, places and events in Franklin County,” Opatut said. “As someone new to the area, I’m appreciative of all the leads.”
“We’re excited to have Scout join the team at the Recorder,” Crowley said. “She has a creative background and will play an important role in reinvigorating our features coverage with new energy and ideas.”