CN&R hires new editor

On April 3, the Chico News & Review will enter a new era when Evan Tuchinsky, a long-time editor for the Press-Enterprise in Riverside, takes the helm.

“It was all sort of fortuitous timing,” said Tuchinsky, who was planning a move to the Chico area even before he learned that CN&R was seeking a new editor.

Tom Gascoyne, former editor of CN&R, resigned in early March.

Tuchinsky will be joined this summer by his fiancée, Amy Dolinar, a Chico native whose parents still reside in Paradise. She’s a pediatrician who will be launching a local medical practice.

“Her family reads the News & Review,” said Tuchinsky, “loves the News & Review.”

A Stanford graduate, Tuchinsky comes with 16 years’ experience as a professional editor with the Pulitzer Prize-winning Riverside Press-Enterprise, a daily newspaper with a circulation of 190,000. He leaves behind his post as features wire editor, and brings with him extensive experience covering sports, travel and entertainment, as well as news and business. He’s been honored by the Society of Professional Journalists and the Associated Press for his sports coverage, and his pieces have been nominated for a Best of the West award three times since 1989.

Tuchinsky’s familiarity with CN&R goes back a long way. His stepsister and cousin both attended Chico State, he said, and as a student, Tuchinsky used to visit Chico for volleyball tournaments. He’s visited numerous times with Dolinar and said he’s been impressed over the years with the depth of the paper’s reporting. One of his top priorities, he said, is to maintain the paper’s general excellence.

Design/Production Director Tina Flynn said she’s very excited to have a new editor on board, and one who’s anxious to get familiar with the community.

“He has a lot of enthusiasm,” she added.

“It’s a vibrant, intelligent community,” said Tuchinsky. Upon arrival, he plans to “go out and talk to as many people as possible.”