Inquirer names Joey Nolasco executive editor

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Daily Inquirer appointed one of its first hires as executive editor, succeeding the late Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc who died on December 24, 2015.

Jose Ma. “Joey” Nolasco, Inquirer’s managing editor for 26 years, joined the newspaper as one of its first batch of reporters in December 1985. He then rose from the ranks as copy editor, foreign news editor, assistant news editor, and then managing editor in 1991.

Quoting its president and CEO Sandy Prieto-Romualdez, Inquirer said on Wednesday, February 3: “Way before her sudden demise last Dec. 24, Letty had pushed for Joey’s appointment as her successor upon her planned retirement after the May elections. I and our board of directors couldn’t agree more with her recommendation.”

The Philippines’ biggest newspaper said it decided to “retire” the title of editor in chief and come up with the new position of executive editor because of its shift to “a multimedia news cycle.”

“The torch has been passed, and it’s an honor to lead the cream of the crop of Philippine journalism who can tell the story of the Filipino with intensity and passion on different platforms,” Nolasco said. (READ: The courage of Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc)

Both Magsanoc and the 62-year-old Nolasco reached their 30th anniversary in the Inquirer in December 1985. He expressed his wish to retire.

Romualdez said, as quoted by the Inquirer: “Truth be told, the last conversation of Letty and Joey was about her desire to have him take over her post. But Joey was hesitant and Letty said she would pray that he would change his mind. And during the wake of Letty, Joey gave a tribute and spoke to Letty, ‘For old times’ sake, I’ll bow to the power of your prayer… In the next 365 days, I’ll stay on… This came as a big relief to all of us at the Inquirer.”

Before joining the Inquirer in 1985, Nolasco wrote for the now defunct Mr. & Ms. Special Edition magazine, one of the few media organizations at the time that dared to speak against the Marcos dictatorship.

His first stint as a reporter was with BusinessDay newspaper (now BusinessWorld) under the late Raul Locsin.

In 1980, Nolasco joined the Journal Group of Companies. He and his fellow reporters were fired 3 years later for organizing a labor union, according to the Inquirer. – Rappler.com