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Mark Katches, Senior Team Leader/Watchdog Journalism for the Orange County Register — talk to them about the titles, not me — leaves Oct. 31 to be assistant managing editor for projects and investigations at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He has been instrumental in the Register's run of strong investigative projects. So much so, they plan to replace him despite a hiring freeze. Newsroom memo is after the jump:
To: Newsroom Associates
09/15/2006 12:44 PM
Subject: Katches headed to Milwaukee!
After a pretty glorious run here at the Register, Mark has decided to take a big step in his career and personal life in Wisconsin.1 He'll be assistant managing editor for projects and investigations at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel with a team of nine reporters. Needless to say, if he does the kind of job he has done here, the bad guys in the Badger 2 State will hope the cold soon chases him home to California. Mark is one of our best people, and we consider the Investigative Editor essential to our operation. So, despite the hiring freeze, we will replace Mark. We'll begin the work of finding his successor before Mark leaves at the end of October.
Mark has made many important contributions both as an editor and as a reporter in his 10 years at the Register. He led the rebuilding of our investigative team in 2001, and oversaw Pulitzer finalists in 2004 and 2005.You don't come across journalists of his quality and passion often. Mark will be here until Oct. 31. Take the opportunity to let him know how we'll miss him.
1 - State motto: Life's so good.
2 - A very ferocious animal, the badger has few enemies. They are apparently unharmed by the venom of the rattlesnake unless the snake strikes its nose.