Christopher Smith
Christopher Smith has joined The Highlander staff as the newspaper’s news editor.
Smith replaces outgoing news editor Ryan Hanchett, who was promoted to publisher of The Highlander and The Crossroads Chronicle in May.
“Christopher comes to Highlands with a strong sense of community and a background in community journalism,” Hanchett said. “We are confident that he will be a good fit and will continue The Highlander’s longstanding tradition of bringing accurate and impactful news to our readers.”
Smith hails from Southern Alabama where he grew up in a bilingual household, speaking both English and Spanish. He graduated from the University of Hartford with a bachelor’s degree in English in 2018.
After college, Smith started his journalism career as a reporter at the Andalusia Star-News in Andalusia, Alabama. He worked his way up to managing editor before making the move to Highlands.
“About six months ago, I was offered an opportunity at a newspaper in Mississippi,” Smith said. “I remember the long drive to that town and how it felt like I wasn’t making the right decision. As I made my way to Highlands, I prayed that I wouldn’t have the same feeling. Driving through the mountains on the way up to The Highlander, I knew that I made the right choice.”
Drawing from his past experience at a small town paper, Smith noted that his strengths match up well with Highlands as a community.
“I like to say that I am a jack of all trades, but a master of none,” Smith said. “So, the community newspaper world is a perfect fit. I can learn about new things and pour myself into articles, and I take pride in knowing that people in the community read my work.”
Aside from his work in community journalism, Smith is also the author of “Standing on the Edge” a novel he penned in 2020.
When he isn’t in the newsroom, Smith enjoys reading, the performing arts and hiking.