Veteran journalist Brian Beckley of Renton has been named assistant editor of the Renton Reporter.

“We are very happy to welcome Brian to the Renton Reporter staff,” said Ellen Morrison, Renton Reporter publisher. “Brian will not only be a great resource to our team but, as a resident of Renton, he will be an asset to the community.”

His first day is Monday.

Beckley began his career in journalism at the Community News, a weekly newspaper, in upstate New York in 1999. After moving to the Seattle area, he was hired by the Puyallup Herald in 2003.

Beckley joined the staff of the newly founded Bonney Lake Courier-Herald in 2005 and helped establish the Courier-Herald as one of the top weekly newspapers in the region. He won Washington Newspaper Publisher Association awards in news, features, photography and column writing.

Beckley moved to the Sumner Reporter and next joined the staff of the Kent Reporter before returning to the Bonney Lake Courier-Herald in 2010. He was appointed interim editor of the Bonney Lake and Enumclaw newspapers in October 2012.

Beckley and his wife Emily moved to north Renton about a year ago.

“I am looking forward to getting more involved in my hometown newspaper,” Beckley said.

“My philosophy has always been to be a champion for the community and a watchdog for the citizens and I will work to bring residents the clearest, most accurate information they need to make the best decisions about their city and their government,” he said.

He also loves a good sandwich shop and is always looking for suggestions, so give him a call, 425-255-3484, ext. 5054, or shoot him an email, bbeckley@rentonreporter.com.