MADISON — Jason Adrians, a veteran journalist with more than 20 years of experience in newspapers, has been named executive editor of the Wisconsin State Journal, the newspaper announced Thursday.
Adrians fills the role vacated by John Smalley, who stepped down last month after nearly 12 years with the newspaper. In addition to leading the State Journal newsroom, Adrians will continue in his role as national editor for its parent company, Lee Enterprises.
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A Wisconsin native, Adrians graduated from Oshkosh North High School in 1995 and earned his bachelor’s degree from UW-Eau Claire in 1999. He started as a sports reporter for the (Eau Claire) Leader-Telegram while in college before his career took him to a variety of newspaper roles in Wisconsin, North Dakota, Florida and Wyoming.
Adrians previously spent nine years on the State Journal staff from 2004 to 2013, rising from news copy editor to assistant sports editor to night editor. Following a two-year stint at the Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune, where he served as editor and later publisher, Adrians returned to Wisconsin as executive editor at The Post-Crescent in Appleton.
He made his way back to Madison in 2017 to lead Lee’s National Desk, which now manages news, sports and other content across 77 U.S. markets.
