There’s a lot of talent inside the Albuquerque Journal. One of my first jobs after arriving in April was figuring out how to put that talent in the right places
That’s what’s behind the changes we made earlier this month in the sports and photo departments. They’re not about changing what the Journal does best. They’re about giving some of our best journalists more room to do it — in print, digitally, on social media and through newsletters
Publisher Bill Lang has made clear his commitment to print journalism, and we’re equally committed to pushing the Journal forward digitally. Lang’s family has owned the Journal for more than 100 years, celebrating its centennial this year
When I arrived from Atlanta, where I was a senior editor at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, three things stood out to me: the opportunity to grow our digital audience, the depth of local knowledge and creativity in our sports department, and a photo staff whose work, in my view, is among the best in the West but hasn’t always received the exposure it deserves
Under the changes, the sports department will be led by Sports News Coordinator Taylor Hood and Sports Editor Geoff Grammer. Hood has been promoted to oversee the department’s day-to-day operations, coordinating workflow and helping guide the coverage that reaches Journal readers across platforms. Grammer will be the face of the sports department in the community and continue to write and produce his podcast
The move follows a shift in responsibilities for Assistant Managing Editor Digital/Sports Lucas Peerman, who will focus at least 90% of his efforts on growing the Journal’s expanding digital audience. He will work closely with Hood during the transition
Peerman will collaborate with Audience Engagement Editor Rachel Berry to build on the Journal’s momentum across digital platforms. His new title will be AME/Digital
The Journal’s audience continues to grow, with more than 300,000 social media likes across various platforms. In 2026, the newspaper is on pace to reach 100 million views for its content on Facebook, a sign of the growing reach and influence of the Journal’s digital operation. The newspaper still prints close to 1 million copies per month
Peerman also will work closely with the photo department on visual coverage, including exclusive digital slideshows
Hood brings a wide range of newsroom experience to his expanded role. Before returning to the Journal, he served as editor of The Taos News and Albuquerque The Magazine and previously worked as an assistant editor of the Journal-owned Rio Rancho Observer
But Hood’s connection to the Journal goes back much further. He began his journalism career at the newspaper as an agate clerk, compiling statistics and creating box scores. That behind-the-scenes work, often overlooked by readers, is where many sports journalists learn the fundamentals of accuracy, organization and the importance of getting the details right
His journey from scoreboard page clerk to overseeing the daily operation of the sports department reflects his career growth and the behind-the-scenes experience he brings to the job
Grammer will continue as Sports Editor, a role that recognizes his years of reporting excellence and his deep connection to New Mexico sports. He will continue as the Journal’s outstanding University of New Mexico men’s basketball reporter
Grammer’s impact extends well beyond Lobos basketball. He has become one of the most recognizable faces of the Journal through his reporting, travels and wide-ranging coverage. From the Lobos to the Albuquerque Isotopes and the many other beats he has covered across the state, Grammer has built a connection with readers and
His podcast, his front-page Monday column and his role hosting the Journal’s live election-night coverage have made him one of the newspaper’s most visible voices
If Hood is the behind-the-scenes star of the Journal’s sports operation, Grammer is its public face — the journalist readers see and hear as he travels New Mexico telling the stories that matter. More than anyone else on the staff, he has his finger on the pulse of Albuquerque and New Mexico because of the miles he travels and the sheer volume of people he meets
I worked in sports for the first 20 years of my career and know good sports writing, reporting and storytelling. The Journal’s staff, with Grammer, soccer writer David Glavach, Lobos football reporter Sean Reider, high school expert James Yodice and combat sports specialist Rick Wright, is in a league of its own in New Mexico
The photo department also has new leadership. Eddie Moore has been named chief photographer, taking on a role he had not pursued over the years despite his long history and contributions at the Journal. After more than 25 years with the newspaper, Moore was asked again to consider the position — and this time, he said yes
Moore’s experience and institutional knowledge make him a natural fit to lead the Journal’s visual journalism operation. Over the past quarter-century, he has photographed countless moments that have defined Albuquerque and New Mexico, but one assignment stands out above the rest
Covering the New Mexico Legislature has been Moore’s favorite part of working for the Journal, giving him the opportunity to document the people, personalities and decisions that shape the state. His work there reflects the role of a great newspaper photographer: not just recording events, but capturing the people and moments that help readers understand their communities
During my first week in Albuquerque, I told Moore and photographers Chancey Bush and Jessica Baca that they were among the best in the country. We’ve since added Michael Sandoval to the staff
To illustrate their talent, we ran three full pages of photos from our Route 66 summer series last Sunday, a full page each for Moore, Bush and Baca to show off their favorites. That’s an unprecedented commitment to visual journalism from the publisher and me
In the big picture (pun intended), Hood, Grammer, Moore and Peerman each bring something different to the Journal, and that’s the point
We’re putting talented people in positions where their strengths can have the greatest impact — on the sports pages, in our photographs, across our digital platforms and, ultimately, in the stories we tell about Albuquerque and New Mexico
The goal is simple: better journalism, more ways for readers to find it and a Journal that remains essential to the community it serves
James Bennett is managing editor of the Journal. Reach him at jbennett@abqjournal.com
