The Daily Journal is pleased to announce two staff changes.
Editor Leeann Doerflein has promoted news reporter Noah Crenshaw to news editor and hired Waylon O’Donnell as a news reporter, the newspaper announced Friday.
Crenshaw succeeds former multimedia news editor Emily Ketterer, who left for an editing position with Hannah News Service in Indianapolis. Crenshaw, who has been with the paper for over two years, began serving in the position in mid-September.
“Noah has been an indispensable part of the team for the past few years and promoting him was a no-brainer,” Doerflein said. “With Noah helping me guide coverage we will certainly reach new heights.”
Crenshaw joined the paper in July 2021 as a government reporter, primarily reporting on the city of Greenwood along with state issues. His responsibilities later changed to include Greenwood, crimes, courts and public safety. He will continue to cover these areas alongside his new responsibilities as news editor.
As news editor, he will help guide coverage of government and breaking news, along with multimedia implementation.
“I’m both grateful and thrilled to be able to continue working at my hometown newspaper,” Crenshaw said. “Newspapers have a critical role in the communities they serve — whether it’s telling stories about housing projects, elections or sports games, or telling stories about someone’s dream or the darkest sides of humanity.”
Crenshaw is from Franklin, where he currently lives. He is a Franklin Community High School graduate and holds a bachelor’s degree in communication and a minor in criminal justice from the University of Indianapolis.
Doerflein also announced the hiring of news reporter Waylon O’Donnell, who fills one of two positions left open following the departures of Ketterer and former education reporter Andy Bell-Baltaci, who left the paper for a move out of state. O’Donnell started on Friday.
Originally a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, O’Donnell pursued a bachelor’s degree in journalism and digital media at Ashland University in central Ohio. Upon graduation, he joined the Ashland Source as a correspondent reporter and 104.5 WQKT as a radio announcer, eventually being promoted to program director. During the coronavirus pandemic, he acquired a master’s degree in communication and leadership from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington.
O’Donnell left Ohio when he was offered a position with Carnival Cruise Lines, where he became one of their highest-regarded game show hosts. He entertained thousands of globetrotters by hosting popular shows like Family Feud and Deal or No Deal. He later managed the onboard comedy club and worked alongside A-list celebrities like Jay Leno and Emeril Lagasse.
The sea was his home for nearly two years until the winds returned him ashore to Greenwood, where he now lives, and the Daily Journal.
“Waylon has proven himself already to be a trustworthy and fair reporter and I can’t wait to see what he can accomplish here,” Doerflein said.
O’Donnell’s primary reporting responsibilities at the Daily Journal include the city of Franklin, the town of Whiteland and Johnson County. He also covers the Franklin and Clark-Pleasant school districts.
“It brings me immense pleasure to begin my journey in Indiana,” O’Donnell said. “Journalism is my greatest passion and I love having the opportunity to make a difference in my community. When I first visited Johnson County, the people and the businesses immediately made me feel at home, so I am extremely eager to plant my roots here.”
