Lucas Grundmeier will field your complaints now.

In Wednesday’s meeting of the Iowa State Daily Publication Board, Grundmeier was voted editor in chief of the paper for summer, fall and spring semesters. Grundmeier, senior in journalism and mass communication, said reader availability and development of sources are two areas he will focus on as editor.

“I want to always be available to readers to figure out how to better do our jobs,” said Grundmeier, current managing editor of content and development for the Daily. “And I’d like to live up to that pledge. We’re not experts on everything.”

An incident of plagiarism and controversial coverage of diversity conferences have made the Daily the subject of its own front page in recent months. Grundmeier said a policy on plagiarism is being developed under Nicole Paseka, current editor in chief, and the Daily will continue to emphasize the journalistic ethics of being fair, accurate and complete, in addition to exploring the feasibility of spot-checking for facts and quotes.

Grundmeier said the paper has “made mistakes in coverage of the [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] community.” He plans to refocus experienced reporters to people-oriented beats, citing the development of sources as key to accurate reporting.

“It goes without saying that you need to know someone to be able to write about them truthfully,” Grundmeier said.

Paseka, senior in journalism in mass communication, said communication is the most important part of the job.

“One of Lucas’ strongest skills is listening,” Paseka said. “He’ll listen well to diverse groups to see how the Daily can improve.”

Grundmeier has worked at the Daily since December 2002, starting as a general assignment reporter and a beat reporter for the College of Engineering. He was sports editor from May 2003 to December 2003, and managing editor of content and development from January to May 2004.

He faced stiff competition for his new job. Mark Witherspoon, adviser to the Daily and ex-officio member of the publication board, said the decision between Grundmeier and Ayrel Clark, who also applied for the position, was the most difficult the board has made in recent memory.

“We couldn’t have made a bad decision this year,” he said.

Clark is the current managing editor of visual and production, and plans to be a reporter next year.

Sarah Fackrell, senior in art and design and publication board member, echoed Witherspoon’s sentiments.

“Hopefully, we’ll continue to have Ayrel’s talent in other capacities,” she said.