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Becker
Editor's Note: The following is the first in a series of articles profiling The Inter-Mountain's staff.
ELKINS -- Joyce Becker, The Inter-Mountain's Commercial Print Manager, is one of the paper's most experienced and versatile staff members, having held numerous positions at multiple newspapers over the years.
"I've worked for Ogden Newspapers for 34 years," Becker said. "I've worked at three of their locations -- The Inter-Mountain twice, Wheeling News Register/Intelligencer in Wheeling, and The Times Leader in Martins Ferry, Ohio.
"I've worked in every department except for running the press over the years," she added. "I started in classifieds/inside sales, moved into building ads by hand and worked on the old design machines at The Inter-Mountain. It was a time of transition (in the newspaper industry) right after hot lead.
"When I moved to Wheeling, I started in the composing room paginating editorial pages by hand. We also shot negatives and plates for the press. I eventually worked my way up to becoming the composing room supervisor."
During her time at the Wheeling paper Becker added further skills and experiences to her resume.
"As time changed, I moved into the editorial department and started paginating on a computer," she said. "I also got to write a couple lifestyles stories during my time there. After Y2K and everything was fine, I moved locations to The Times Leader. I started there in the graphic design department. I also worked in inside sales and moved into the circulation department where I ran the Newspapers In Education (NIE) program.
"When the time came where we moved back to this area, I came back to The Inter-Mountain and started the NIE program here," she continued. "At that time, I worked in the business office and worked on circulation promotions.
"Once again, as time changed my job changed. I started in the commercial print division here at The Inter-Mountain. With a brief absence, I came back to work in the advertising department and as people came and went, I became the commercial print director, which included the graphic design department."
Becker currently oversees The Inter-Mountain's many commercial printing jobs.
"My duties include running the commercial print department -- printing of six weeklies on the web press and customers that order sheet feed printing, like brochures, newsletters, posters, books, business cards, etc.," she said. "I also help in advertising, circulation and editorial."
Becker said her job is a satisfying one.
"I enjoy being able to be creative and I enjoy getting to know all the customers I have," she said.
Becker said the most memorable experience in her career came while working at The Inter-Mountain years ago.
"My most memorable experience was working with Eldora Nuzum. She helped make me the person I am today," Becker said.
The longtime editor of The Inter-Mountain, Nuzum was the first female to be an editor-in-chief of a regularly published daily newspaper in the state. In 1965-67, Nuzum was elected president of United Press International (UPI) Editors of West Virginia. At that time, she was the only female editor in the state association.
Working through the COVID-19 pandemic has been a unique situation for Becker.
"This pandemic has created so much change throughout the past 11 months," she said. "Transition and change can be hard and we went through some really rough times. I'm still hoping for some of the normal to return."
Becker said family has been the focus of her life and remains her inspiration.
"I've been married 31 years, we have two daughters and one son, one grandson and one granddaughter," she said.
"I would like to add that my success all these years was because of my parents and grandparents. They taught me strong work values, courage and kindness."