Samelson moves up; Deptolla returns to Guild leadership

The Milwaukee Newspaper Guild’s Executive Board named day copy editor Karen Samelson as secretary in November. She will serve until the next membership meeting, when members will vote on filling the term of metro reporter Sarah Carr, who was elected at the September annual meeting but who then left the Journal Sentinel for a job at the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Samelson had started her first term as an at-large board member on Oct. 1. She also is chair of the local’s Human Rights Committee. The Executive Board is seeking candidates to fill Samelson’s board member position. Anyone interested should contact our president, Amy Rinard.

In December, the board appointed Carol Deptolla as a steward leader, in charge of contract enforcement, membership and mobilizing for the copy desk, night graphics/design staff, national desk, opinions staff and metro desk editorial assistants. She will fill the term of Jerry Ziegler, the only Guild leader to take the Journal Sentinel buyout. Both Deptolla and Ziegler are assistant copy desk chiefs on the night shift.

Deptolla previously served two terms as a steward leader, in addition to two terms as 2nd vice president, one term as a board member and a stint as newsletter editor. She was most recently a night shift steward.

The board also reappointed metro reporter Susanne Rust to a third term as Health and Safety Committee chair.