Anne MacKinnon is the chair of WyoFile’s board
The governing board of WyoFile is delighted to announce that Matthew Copeland will be our new chief executive and editor, in charge of all of WyoFile’s operations.
Copeland has written and edited for WyoFile, most recently creating the series of short features, Wyoming Know-How. He is an insightful journalist and thoughtful observer of Wyoming in the twenty-first century.
In this new role he will run both the editorial and operational sides of WyoFile. This represents a change in WyoFile’s staff structure that we believe will clarify organizational leadership and help WyoFile advance our mission of delivering in-depth, non-partisan reporting on the people, places and policies of Wyoming.
Copeland brings nearly two decades of management, professional communications and community engagement experience to the role — more than half of it with Wyoming nonprofits. He is an award-winning writer who began his relationship with WyoFile as a freelance reporter, covering among other topics, the Wind River Indian Reservation.
In the first half of 2016 he served as WyoFile’s interim editor and was instrumental in rapidly expanding both readership and the WyoFile community.
A native of Charlottesville Virginia, Copeland studied as a Howard Hughes Scholar of the Life Sciences and competed as a student athlete at Penn State. Then, as he puts it, he “served a six year corporate sentence in the internet technology industry.” Upon “escape” he found his way home to Wyoming where he met his wife, settled in Lander, started a family and has been thoroughly ruined for a life lived anywhere else.
Copeland describes himself as an avid hunter, angler and wild-country junkie who believes that facts matter, that integrity is non negotiable, and that nothing is as powerful as a good story well told.
Vicki Lindner says
July 2, 2017 at 1:38 pmI worked with him on a story and thought he was an excellent editor. He helped me improve my work without sabotaging its basic ideas–a rare attribute for an editor. I am hoping he will be willing to take some risks–like writing about the gun industry in Wyoming, for example, why the Democrats don’t bother canvassing in Wyoming, and problems with local health care, and other controversial subjects in a way that would be informative to all Wyomingites.
Shannon Batenhorst says
June 30, 2017 at 6:49 pmHope you are staying in Lander…..
Jeremy Wilzbacher says
June 30, 2017 at 3:03 pmFantastic news. Look forward to it all.
Ilana Williams says
June 28, 2017 at 6:38 amCongratulations, Matt! Well deserved!
Lee Bailey says
June 27, 2017 at 4:10 pmCongratulations! Looking forward to factual, non partisan reporting on your watch! Excellent!
Lawson Drinkard says
June 27, 2017 at 3:47 pmWyoFile is lucky to have you at the helm!
Bill & Sherry Copeland says
June 27, 2017 at 12:50 pmWe couldn’t be more pleased to hear of Matthew Copeland’s appointment to this position & are very proud of him — Uncle Bill & Aunt Sherry
Nancy Debevoise says
June 27, 2017 at 11:31 amWonderful news! Smart move!
Amy Rathke says
June 27, 2017 at 9:43 amHappy to hear it!
Michael Shay says
June 27, 2017 at 9:14 amCongratulations, Matt. We need WyoFile.
Cody Beers says
June 27, 2017 at 9:12 amYou hit a dinger with Matt’s hiring. Engaging and a man of integrity. Good luck Matt! Hit it out of the park.
Susan Lasher & Chris Pfister says
June 27, 2017 at 9:07 amGreat breaking news for us readers, fans, and supporters of WyoFile! Congratulations, Mr. Copeland and WyoFile!
Susan Lasher & Chris Pfister
Cody
Suzie pace says
June 27, 2017 at 8:38 amMatthew Copeland, I know objectivity is no where to be found in this rave review. A better man can not be found for this position. -Aunt Suzie
Barbara Townsend says
June 27, 2017 at 8:00 amWonderful! Congratulations to Matt and to Wyofile!
Lisa McGee says
June 27, 2017 at 7:58 amGreat news! Congrats Matt!!
Greg Jackson says
June 27, 2017 at 7:57 amCopeland is the epitome of “nothing is as powerful as a good story well told.” Congrats Matty – and great move Wyofile
Steff Kessler says
June 27, 2017 at 7:39 amGreat choice! Congrats WyoFile and Matt!
RON SMITH says
June 27, 2017 at 7:13 amCongratulations Matt!!! We look forward to an even better Wyofile!