Press news leadership changing

After almost 21 years as managing editor of The Press, Mike Patrick is semi-retiring May 27. He’s being replaced by Maureen Dolan, a longtime reporter and editor at The Press.

Patrick, 66, will continue to write editorials and serve as a consultant for the Hagadone Newspaper Division. He and his wife, columnist Sholeh, are moving to Florida, where one of their sons and his wife had their first child Thursday night.

“This is something I’ve been talking to Publisher Clint Schroeder about for more than a year,” Patrick said. “I’ve reached full retirement age, survived stage 4 cancer and am ready to be the best dad and grandpa I can be.”

The Patricks have four kids and eight grandkids.

Patrick joined the newspaper on Oct. 22, 2001. Prior to that, he was the top editor at daily newspapers in Provo, Utah; Flagstaff, Ariz.; and Lawrenceville, Ill.

In 2020, he was named Citizen of the Year by the Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber. Last year, he and Sholeh were inducted into the Idaho Hall of Fame for “Outstanding service in journalism — free speech and free press.”

"Mike is one of the most talented journalists I know,” Schroeder said. “His investment and care for our staff, readers, and community show through his work seven days a week. I will miss his wit and laughter around the office, but fortunately for us, Mike has agreed to remain an integral part of our mission by lending us his steady voice and opinion."

Schroeder explained that at most daily newspapers, the person responsible for news coverage does not write the paper’s key opinion pieces.

“With Maureen overseeing our news coverage and Mike writing our editorial board’s stances on important issues, we have separation between news and opinions that’s much more ideal,” Schroeder said.

During his career, Patrick, a University of Arizona journalism graduate, has won editorial writing awards in Illinois, Arizona, Utah and Idaho. He’s also managed a group of weekly newspapers in Utah.

In addition to writing editorials for The Press, Patrick will continue to work as personal editor for his nephew, Ben Patrick, known in the fitness world as KneesOverToesGuy. Ben’s first book, Knee Ability Zero, is the Amazon No. 1 best seller in the fitness category. Ben and his family live half the year in Florida.

“There’s so much Sholeh and I are looking forward to in this next chapter of our lives,” Mike said. “But our hearts are also heavy because we’re leaving behind many wonderful friends. You won’t hear me say this often, but thank goodness for the internet, so we can continue to stay close to those friends and North Idaho’s newsmakers.”

Dolan had been a reporter for six years and city editor — the No. 2 position in the newsroom at the time — for seven years before joining North Idaho College’s communications department three years ago. She rejoined The Press in early April and has been working with Patrick on the transition since then.

"Maureen's return to the CDA Press is a significant win for the company and community," said Schroeder. "She is a proven mentor, a skilled leader and a genuine advocate for the community of Kootenai County.

"I am excited for a future that includes Maureen and immeasurably grateful for Mike's significant investment in our past and present.”