The University of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communication has announced the appointment of Mike Fancher as interim executive director of the new Center for Journalism Innovation.

Fancher will support the school in its search for a Journalism Innovation and Civic Engagement Chair and aid in the initial development of the center.  

“I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to help launch this important center,” Fancher said. “The UO School of Journalism and Communication is ideally suited to explore the nexus between journalism innovation and civic engagement, in part because the Pacific Northwest epitomizes both." 

Fancher earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the UO's SOJC in 1968, and is an honoree of the school’s Hall of Achievement. He retired from The Seattle Times in 2008, after 30 years. He served as the newspaper’s executive editor for 20 of those years, during which it won four Pulitzer Prizes and was a Pulitzer finalist 13 other times. In 2009, the Western Washington Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists presented Fancher its award for Distinguished Service to Journalism.

"We are extremely pleased to have an innovator with Mike’s professional experience join us as we move forward with building the center,” said Julianne Newton, the school's Edwin L. Artzt Interim Dean. “Mike has the practical knowledge and creative vision required as we look to imagine the future of journalism."

The Center for Journalism Innovation exists to explore the current state of innovation in journalism, the role of journalism in civic life and strategies for transforming and sustaining high-quality journalism in a digital world. In addition to a faculty fellowship program, the center will host a series of summits at the Turnbull Portland Center and Allen Hall in Eugene.

- from the UO's School of Journalism and Communication