Wade named publisher of Capital-Journal

Stephen Wade began his career as an intern at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is returning to be the newspaper's newest publisher.

"I had the opportunity to really grow up here at the Capital-Journal," Wade said. "Topeka's home for me. I enjoyed living in the South - the weather's phenomenal. But if you talk to anybody that I've been around back in Augusta or in Florence, S.C., they will tell you that I've never been bashful about talking about my Kansas roots. I'm a Kansas boy through and through."

Wade most recently served as general manager and president of The Augusta Chronicle. Over the years, he has worked as a picture editor in Los Angeles, and he worked in publisher roles in Pittsburg, Kan., Independence, Mo., and Florence, S.C.

Wade also will fill the role of Kansas senior group publisher for Gatehouse Media, which purchased The Capital-Journal in October 2017, said Grady Singletary, Gatehouse regional vice president. In that position, Wade will work with Gatehouse papers throughout the state.

As someone who has watched the evolution of journalism for three decades, Wade is committed to the work The Capital-Journal does. And he's also clear about the challenges facing the industry.

"I would make the argument that journalism is more important now than it's been in a very long time," he said, adding that transparency, objectivity and the clear delineation between opinion and facts are critical parts of doing the job well.

In addition, the opportunity to return home and live near his parents, who are Topeka residents, and one of his children, is incredible, he said.

"I guess what I want people to know is I am a Topeka boy. I want the paper to be involved," Wade said. "I want the paper to be a part of each person's daily life, and it doesn't matter to me whether you're getting the paper electronically, if you get it on your doorstep, of if you look at us on social media, I want the paper to be a part of every person's life."

Wade and his wife, Paula, share four children and one grandchild. Wade can be reached at stephen.wade@cjonline.com.