PHC's Journalism professor named Editor-in-Chief at WORLD News

One day in August 2024, Dr. Les Sillars, PHC's Professor of Journalism and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, received a call from Nick Eicher, the co-chief content officer at WORLD News Group. Eicher asked Sillars if he would be interested in becoming the editor-in-chief at WORLD.

“I felt very flattered even to be considered. I had no idea they were looking for an editor-in-chief. If I had known, I wouldn't have expected them to call me,” Sillars said.

WORLD has not had an editor-in-chief since 2021. That year Eicher and Lynn Vincent, WORLD’s co-chief content officers, appointed an "Editorial Council," made up of editors to run the organization's news, radio, website, and magazine divisions. But Vincent began suffering from health problems, causing severe neck spasms. This made it very difficult to text, eat, or drive—let alone work at a computer screen for her job. The giant step she was forced to take away from daily editorial responsibilities only highlighted the need for an editor-in-chief.

Sillars had been a part-time editor, writer, and producer at WORLD since 1999, in addition to his role at PHC. He was familiar with WORLD's values, had worked on their website, taught at the WORLD Journalism Institute, and had success with Doubletake, WORLD’s narrative podcast.

"I think WORLD approached me because we have a common view of what biblical journalism is, how to do it, and how to encourage it," Sillars said.

Sillars and Eicher had several conversations last fall about what responsibilities the position would entail. PHC agreed to hire an assistant to help Sillars continue to teach at PHC and run the Journalism Program. 

“They let me know that they would help me with anything I need to make this work,” Sillars said.

In November of last year, Sillars accepted WORLD's offer. He sent a cryptic email to all journalism students in late November telling them to meet in the Library Study Center for an announcement. After hearing of Sillars' new position at WORLD, students were very enthusiastic, congratulated him heartily, and even teased him a little bit. He started as Editor-in-Chief on December 9^th.

Sillars anticipates the role will provide him with extra experience and knowledge he can pass on to his students and raise the profile of PHC's Journalism Program. In part because PHC is so close to Washington, D.C., PHC students and alumni already enjoy many opportunities in journalism and related fields, including at WORLD. Several recent alumni work for the organization, including Mary Muncy, Elizabeth Russell, and Josh Schumacher ('22), as well as Emma Perley ('23).

The opportunity with WORLD has been, he said, "amazing, and a great blessing. I'm thrilled to work every day with excellent journalists who love the Lord and want to serve Him by serving their audiences. And to be able to do this while continuing to teach is beyond what I could have imagined possible."

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