Fishing Tackle Retailer announced that B.A.S.S. Senior Editor Ken Duke will become the next FTR Managing Editor.
Duke is a longtime industry professional, most recently serving as senior editor of B.A.S.S. Publications (2005-14). Before that he served as B.A.S.S. Senior Publicist (2004-05) and as an editor with Game & Fish Publications (1999-2004). He is the author of two books on bass fishing and has been published in more than 50 regional and national outdoor magazines.
“Ken brings years of editorial experience, interesting new ideas and an understanding of our unique relationship with the trade as a B2B publication,” said FTR President Brian Thurston.
Duke was previously on staff at Fishing Tackle Retailer from 2005-2010, when the publication was owned by B.A.S.S.
“Im thrilled to be working with FTR,” said Duke. “It’s a publication that Ive admired for a long time and I hope to continue the great work that’s been going on there. It’s wonderful to join a company that’s already an industry leader.
The addition of Duke heralds a restructuring at FTR. Beginning in 2015, current Publisher and founder Clem Dippel will take on a new role as senior consultant. Brian Thurston and Carlton Veirs will share the title of publisher.
Both the print and the digital assets of FTR have undergone complete redesigns in the past year. Duke says he is looking forward to using those assets to innovate in the publishing industry.
“Although Im new to the position of FTR Managing Editor, Im not exactly new to the publication. I served on the editorial staff of the magazine for several years when it was a B.A.S.S. publication, and Ive watched its development since that time, said Duke. Im excited about the challenge of keeping things growing and moving in the right direction,” said Duke.
