Profile: Chris Eddings
Christopher A. Eddings, publisher and group vice president for The Daily Record, joined the newspaper as publisher in August 1997 and was named group vice president of Dolan Media’s Mid-Atlantic publications in 1999. During a 27 year newspaper career, Chris has published daily and weekly newspapers in Massachusetts, Texas and Maryland, and served as general manager of the European Edition of The Stars and Stripes in Darmstadt, Germany from 1991 to 1993, the paper’s first civilian GM since World War II. He is currently the Maryland state chair for the National Newspaper Association and vice president of the American Court and Commercial Newspapers Association.

PERSONAL:
Born Sept. 10, 1949. Married for 27 years to Denise. Children: David, 22, a junior at the University of Maryland College Park and Sam, 17, a high school sophomore.

Education: BA, Bates College, Lewiston, Maine, 1971.

How would you describe yourself: "I’m generally optimistic, outgoing, creative, love my work and am also fairly demanding of myself and others."

PROFESSIONAL:
Favorite part of your job: "The people I work with and the people I work for. They’re top notch in every way and make me proud to know them."

Least favorite thing about your job: "The occasional surprises that come with equipment failures, press problems, systems failures, computer viruses and various telecommunication nightmares."

List and briefly describe your mentor: "Bill Wasserman, founder and owner of North Shore Weeklies Newspapers in Ipswich, MA. Bill had a passion for journalistic excellence and grew a single newspaper into a 16-newspaper suburban group by focusing on providing newspapers that were excellent, timely, informative, vital to their communities and often award-winning."

Biggest challenge: "Getting everything done that needs doing each day. We’re a small newspaper company and staff members and I wear lots of hats."

Most serious challenge to newsgatherers today: "Professional, capable, skilled newsgatherers are all too often lumped in by the public with those who simply pass along or collate rumor. Our challenge is to differentiate ourselves and the excellence of our news and information in the public eye."

Main benefit you derive from MDDC membership: "We particularly appreciate their watchfulness and careful attention in the legislative arena."

FUN:
Favorite music: "Jazz – particularly Ellington and Armstrong."

Favorite car and the car you drive now: "My favorite cars are any of the early 1950’s Buick convertibles. I currently drive an Audi A4."

Last book read: "Valhalla Rising" by Clive Cussler

Last movie seen: "I’m not sure it counts since it was ‘made for TV,’ but Band of Brothers is terrific."

Favorite TV show: "West Wing"

Last vacation: "Our last vacation was this August when Denise and I went to New York City for a few days. After the horrible events of September 11th, we feel lucky to have seen the World Trade Center again as it was shortly before the terror."

How would you most like to spend one day: "I’d love to spend a day as a ‘fly on the wall’ with the President of the United States."

Favorite quotation: "‘Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.’ …generally attributed to Robert F. Kennedy."

If you could meet anyone else (any time in history), who would it be? "John Adams – David McCullough’s recent book only confirmed what I’ve believed for years – that without Adams, American Democracy might not exist."

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