Inter Lake announces newsroom changes
The Daily Inter Lake newsroom enters the new year with some changes in leadership.
News editor Lynnette Hintze officially entered retirement on Jan. 1 after more than 26 years at the paper and 47 years as a journalist.
She joined the Inter Lake in 1995, serving as a reporter, features editor and news editor, along with a stint as editor of the Whitefish Pilot. Hintze is likely most well known by readers for her popular “As I see it” column that garnered numerous Montana Newspaper Association accolades over the years.
“Lynnette has been a steady, positive influence in our newsroom for many years and she will be missed,” commented Daily Inter Lake Publisher Rick Weaver. “From covering Flathead County government to mentoring young reporters, Lynnette did it all.”
Notably, Hintze led the Inter Lake’s coverage of the Libby asbestos health crisis, breaking the news story ahead of national media outlets.
Inter Lake Managing Editor Matt Baldwin said Hintze’s even-handed approach to community journalism is what set her apart and earned the community’s trust over the decades. Readers came to appreciate that a story with Hintze’s byline was going to be fair and thorough, he said.
“There’s no doubt that Lynnette is among the most important journalists in Northwest Montana history,” Baldwin commented. “It’s been a pleasure and honor to work alongside her, and we all wish her the best in retirement. She’s earned it.”
WHILE HINTZE’S retirement leaves big shoes to fill, the Inter Lake is poised to carry its commitment to community journalism forward with the addition of two proven editors who are already known by many local readers.
Heidi Desch will join the Inter Lake as features editor, and Derrick Perkins will come aboard as the Inter Lake’s news editor.
Perkins joined The Western News in Libby as editor in 2019. He has overseen the editorial operations of the twice-weekly newspaper covering Lincoln County ever since, winning several awards from the Montana Newspaper Association.
Perkins previously served as editor-in-chief at the Alexandria Times in the Washington, D.C. area. He has also worked as a correspondent for the New Hampshire Union Leader and as a reporter covering the Marine Corps for Military Times.
He graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a bachelor’s degree in history.
“Derrick has really done an admirable job covering Lincoln County,” Weaver commented. “Derrick came to us with a very strong news background and has demonstrated that he isn’t afraid to stand up to special interest groups.”
A search for the next editor at The Western News is underway.
DESCH MOST recently served as managing editor of the Whitefish Pilot, spending 10 years at the newspaper and earning top honors for her investigative reporting.
Prior to that she was a reporter at the Hungry Horse News, and served as interim editor of The Western News and Bigfork Eagle.
She earned her journalism degree from the University of Montana and is a graduate of Libby High School.
“Heidi has done a great job as editor of the Whitefish Pilot, and with her strong ties to Northwest Montana, we know she will be a good fit in the Inter Lake newsroom,” Weaver commented.
Baldwin and Desch worked together at the Pilot for five years prior to his move to the Inter Lake. During that time the paper was named the best weekly in Montana among all circulation classes.
The Pilot will be in good hands going forward with reporter Whitney England stepping into the editor role. England joined the Pilot in August 2020 covering sports, education and features. She has also worked at the Daily Inter Lake and the Lake County Leader in Polson. She previously worked on the digital media team at the Deseret News in Utah.
“2022 is beginning with a time of transition at our newspapers,” Baldwin commented, “but I’m excited and confident about the future of local news in the communities we serve.”