The State Hornet Publication Board selected Gamaliel Ortiz as the editor in chief for the 2007-08 year it announced on Friday.

Ortiz, currently the editor of the News section of the print edition, has also worked on the newspaper as staff writer, copy editor and assistant News editor.

The senior philosophy major has worked as a Sports section editorial assistant, freelance writer and a newsroom aide at The Sacramento Bee since February of 2004.

“Since I have been a part of the State Hornet, it has grown and flourished with each passing semester. I think I have, too,” Ortiz wrote in his application. “The group of my peers has taken great strides and has established a strong tradition of success, fairness, ethics and excellence in the realm of college newspapers. I want to carry on that tradition.”

Ortiz would like to push online news to the forefront and he said he sees it as the centerpiece of the next two semesters. Ortiz said he would like to focus on producing daily content through timely stories, photos, video, blogs, podcasts and other multimedia.

“Gama’s work in this new role begins immediately as he begins to build his management team and prepares to produce the summer issue of The State Hornet – an important publication that remains on campus all summer as students arrive for summer school and orientations,” said Holly Heyser, the professional journalist in residence at The State Hornet.

Anyone interested in joining the newspaper for the fall of 2007 should contact Gamaliel Ortiz at [email protected].