It’s been a privilege serving as editor of the Rappahannock News, especially as such an early career journalist. Thank you to the community that welcomed me with open arms and placed a great deal of trust in me and my colleagues to bring them Rappahannock County’s paper of record each week.
I was immediately taken aback by the outsized engagement of the community with our little newspaper and local affairs. Nearly two years later as I exit, it still astonishes me. That kind of intense, widespread interest in hyperlocal news is rare, and this community should take great pride in their deep commitment to civic engagement.
It’s bittersweet then for me to announce I’m departing my post and moving on to cover Prince William County government and politics with InsideNoVa, a sister publication of this newspaper. I hope this won’t be my final byline here though. I intend to maintain connections with this community I’ve grown so fond of over the past few years through occasional contributions to Foothills Forum.
I’m confident that I’m leaving the publication in good hands with Julia Shanahan, our reporter who I’m thrilled to announce has been named the next editor of the Rappahannock News. Shanahan, a 2021 graduate of the University of Iowa, has been an integral part of the Rapp News since I started and continues to amaze with her award-winning coverage of everything from broadband expansion to the county’s courthouse renovation effort.
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Julia Shanahan
“I’ve known that I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was in elementary school,” Shanahan said in a statement. “In third grade, my best friend and I made a ‘girls only newspaper’ out of a spiral notebook, and it included only the juiciest celebrity gossip.”
She continued, “I’ve had the privilege of always being surrounded by incredible mentors. I would not be in this career without the guidance from an outstanding high school journalism teacher and tough (but supportive) journalism coach at my college newspaper. They gave me the space to grow as a young reporter, and I will always hold a special place for them in my heart.”
Shanahan, a Report for America corps member, was recognized this year by the Virginia Press Association with several awards for her coverage of Rappahannock County.
She received first place for stories about criminal justice and emergency services. She also shared a first place award with Luke Christopher and Dennis Brack for coverage of a fire that devastated a Rappahannock family’s home, and shared a first place award with myself and Tim Carrington for coverage of broadband expansion in the county. Shanahan received second place for a collection of feature stories.
She was also recognized by Report for America on several occasions for exemplary coverage when compared to reporters across the country.
Originally of Naperville, Illinois, Shanahan was the politics editor at The Daily Iowan, the student-run paper at her university. The publication was named the Iowa Newspaper Association’s Newspaper of the Year in 2020 and 2021, with Shanahan earning awards for her reporting. She was a finalist for national Reporter of the Year from the Associated Collegiate Press in 2020, and has interned with the Pennsylvania Legislative Correspondents’ Association.
Shanahan first came to Rappahannock County in June 2021.
“It didn’t take me long to realize that Rappahannock County is a special place,” Shanahan said. “I will never forget the first time I drove by Massies Corner — it actually brought tears to my eyes because I couldn’t believe this was my new home. I’m eager to continue telling your stories and getting to know all of the fascinating individuals who make up this county.”
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