John Edwards
Editor and Publisher, The Smithfield Times

As editor and publisher of The Smithfield Times, John Edwards brings a lifetime of reporting, editing and civic service to his position.

Edwards began his reporting career in 1966 as a Richmond bureau reporter for United Press International– two years before he earned his B.S.  in journalism from Richmond Professional Institute (now Virginia Commonwealth University).

During the course of his 42-year career, Edwards has worked for the Washington Post, and the Alexandria Gazette, as well as Norfolk's Virginian-Pilot. In 1980 he assumed the role of editor of The Smithfield Times, and in 1986 he took on the additional role of publisher.

As a member and director of the Virginia Press Association, Edwards coordinated the effort to organize VPA's First Amendment Trust Fund and served as trustee. In 1988 he was appointed to a special Virginia legislative subcommittee created to study and recommend revision of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The committee's work led to major revision in the act in 1989 and 1990. Continuing with his commitment, Edwards is a current member of the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council.  

Edwards also helped to create the Virginia Coalition of Open Government, a nonprofit alliance formed to promote expanded access to government records, meetings and other proceedings at the state and local level. He is now a member of the coalition's board of directors.

In addition to contributing to his profession, Edwards also has contributed much to his community. In 1987 he organized a summer concert series for Smithfield residents– a series that continues to this day with his newspaper's support.

Edwards also helped to found Historical Downtown Smithfield, Inc., and became the organization's president. In 1989, this group raised $1.6 million in private and public funds to revitalize downtown Smithfield.

His efforts to protect the Chesapeake Bay have included narrating a two-part television series that aired on PBS, and working with Christopher Newport College to create a series titled, "The Bay– It Makes Us Who We Are."