Optic’s McDonald leaving post

Tom McDonald, who has served as the Optic’s editor and publisher for more than eight years, has announced plans to resign to start his own business.

The resignation is tentatively effective in mid-March. Landmark Community Newspapers Inc., the Optic’s parent company, has announced that Optic managing editor Martin Salazar will take over as interim general manager and editor upon McDonald’s departure until a permanent replacement for McDonald is selected.

The newspaper’s staff was told of the resignation Monday afternoon.

“It’s been a heck of a run, but it’s time that I move on,” McDonald told the staff.  

McDonald said he plans to remain in Las Vegas and to launch a business that provides a variety of media services.

“Over the next month I hope to make the transition as smooth as possible...,” McDonald said. “It’s been a privilege to serve the Optic and Las Vegas as editor and publisher these past eight years, and it’s been an honor to work with each of you.”

The Arkansas native took over as editor and publisher of the Optic in October 2004. He rolled up his sleeves and went to work shoring up the paper’s newsroom and business operations.

He launched the Optic’s first website and was also at its helm when the newspaper’s frequency was reduced from five days a week to three. As part of that move, subscriber delivery of the Optic was changed from carriers to the U.S. Postal Service.

Most recently, McDonald oversaw a major upgrade of the newspaper’s computer system.
Salazar has been the Optic’s managing editor for two years. Prior to that, he worked at the Albuquerque Journal as an assistant city editor.