Community

Gig Harbor Now hires veteran newsman Dice as new editor

Gig Harbor Now achieved a substantial milestone Tuesday, when editor Vince Dice assumed the duties as its first full-time, paid employee. The hiring was announced by Pat Lantz, the nonprofit publication’s board president.

Community Sponsor

Community stories are made possible in part by Peninsula Light Co, a proud sponsor of Gig Harbor Now.

Dice, 48, replaces volunteer editor Ed Friedrich, who nurtured the fledgling news site after its Sept. 3 launch. During Gig Harbor Now‘s first six months, readership grew to 25,000 monthly online page views and 2,200 social media followers as the community discovered it as a consistent, objective source of local news.

Lantz recalls launch day vividly.

“We were giddy in anticipation of our nonprofit digital news source going live with the unbiased, local, fact-based news and information that our community hungered for,” she said. “Just a click of the mouse on our website, the quality of which exceeded our expectations, followed by the board members’ clicks on a dozen iPads “liking” Gig Harbor Now, and there was no turning back.

“Six months later our conviction about the desire for a steady flow of trustworthy local news has been confirmed. Friends, neighbors and organizations donated, “liked,” shared and stopped us on the street with story tips. They wanted more stories, more coverage and more opportunity to interact. Demand translated into successful fundraising. We confidently went in search of a pro to hire as a full-time editor. Vince Dice fit the bill.

“Driven by the experienced, proven new editor, Gig Harbor Now’s growth can only be expected to continue, and accelerate.”

“I look forward to getting to know the Gig Harbor community and telling its stories,” Dice said. “We aim to make Gig Harbor Now essential for every person who lives in the area.

“This is an exciting opportunity to be part of reimagining local news at a nonprofit, community-funded online publication.”

Dice has worked in the news business for more than two decades after earning a journalism degree in 1996 from Gonzaga University. The Bremerton resident worked for nearly 17 years at that community’s daily newspaper, the Kitsap Sun.

His tenure included 10 years as digital news editor, where he directed the daily paper’s local news report, managed its website content, and administered its Facebook and Twitter accounts. He edited the news, sports and entertainment sections, and supervised reporters and photographers.

Before his promotion to digital editor, Dice served for seven years as a copy editor and page designer, performing as Page 1 designer, lead copy editor, sports copy editor, wire editor and sports designer.

In his initial position out of college, Dice worked as sports editor and then editor of the Central Kitsap Reporter, a twice-weekly community newspaper in Silverdale, for a combined six years.

“With the addition of Vince Dice, it is clear that Gig Harbor Now is not a start-up of beginners,” Lantz said. “We are a professional, top-level outfit with top people touting 30 and 40 years of journalism experience. Vince’s know-how makes him an excellent choice to lead Gig Harbor Now into the future.”

Dice developed a reputation for delivering timely, accurate information to readers, and has a knack for writing clean, understandable stories and helping others to do so. He’ll be making the rounds around town, introducing himself to the community. Stop by and say hello.

Dice and wife Angela keep busy with their 7-year-old son, Dean, and Jack Russell terrier mix puppy, Luna. In his off time, Dice works part-time as a call receiver at the Kitsap County 911 center, coaches Dean’s youth basketball team, and enjoys his alma mater’s top-rated Zags basketball team.

Dice can be reached at [email protected].