Local paper to get new editor

By Eric Maddy
The SCORE

Rio Rancho’s biweekly community newspaper will be getting a new editor.

Sandoval County commissioner Jack Thomas introduced Lia Martin as the interim editor of the Rio Rancho Observer at the commission’s meeting Thursday night. Martin replaces Joe Joshi, who submitted his resignation Thursday morning.

Martin has worked at the Grants Daily Beacon, a sister paper in the Wick Communications chain. Martin said after the commission meeting she planned to apply for the permanent job.

Joshi’s resignation is the latest in a series of changes at the newspaper. He became editor of The Observer last fall and guided the newspaper’s format change to a tabloid format.

Reporter Jimmy Currier joined the staff in October and publisher Russ Cannon was named in December after publisher Sandy Rea resigned.

Reached at home, Joshi declined comment, citing a confidentiality clause in his employment contract.