Carole Tarrant

Editor

Carole Tarrant joined The Roanoke Times in 2005 and became editor in 2007. During her tenure, the paper and its website, roanoke.com, have won a number of national awards for photojournalism, breaking news, enterprise and multimedia reporting. The Scripps Howard Foundation, Pictures of the Year International, Editor & Publisher magazine and the Online News Association are among the organizations recognizing this work.

Tarrant is on the national board of the Associated Press Managing Editors and a member of the Journalism and Women Symposium (JAWS). A Philadelphia native, she previously worked at newspapers in North Dakota, Florida and Alabama. She lives in Salem and is mother to a 9-year-old son.

[VA 0201] - Part 1: Intro and Contribution (4:16)

Carole Tarrant, editor, The Roanoke Times, says her job is “shedding a light on things because we have this big megaphone.” “I think that … our newsroom wants to leave the community a better place,” says Tarrant.

[VA 0202] - Part 2: Ethics & Content (5:00)

Carole Tarrant, editor, The Roanoke Times, says their ethical code is dynamic: “ We adapt [the code] as new tools emerge and it’s produced with the newsroom. If someone violates the code, they feel the whole weight of the newsroom: it’s their document.”

[VA 0203] - Part 3: Strategic Changes (4:43)

Carole Tarrant, editor, The Roanoke Times, says her newspaper has re-doubled its efforts to include news of community events. “If you bother to send us that info, we will find a way to get in: either in print or online.”

[VA 0204] - Part 4: Adaptation & the Future (3:38)

Carole Tarrant, editor, The Roanoke Times, says journalists need to learn to adapt to the new delivery platforms. “What you need in your hand [-held device] is different than what you need online. No long- form reports on the phone,” says Tarrant.

[VA 0205] - Part 5: Prospects & Preparation (1:33)

Carole Tarrant, editor, The Roanoke Times, says that up-and-coming reporters need to learn how to interview in person. “Go back to the core but be aware of new technologies,” she says.