Meet Our New Managing Editor!

For the last several weeks, Sierra Lidén has been serving as the Managing Editor of the Rockland County Times, a step forward after a full year spent as the Community Editor. In her prior role, Lidén  expanded the Community News section from one quarter of a page to four full pages, interviewed over 100 local businesses, nonprofits and community members, and fell in love with the county of Rockland.

Lidén, a California native, provides a fresh perspective for the RCT. Having grown up in a military family that was stationed in several different parts of the country, Lidén learned young how to make friends easily and quickly. She said, “My husband always makes fun of me because no matter where we are, I always make a friend because I just love [people]… on the subway, on a plane, wherever!” Her welcoming and sociable personality are part of what makes her such a good journalist.

In college, she studied acting at the University of Santa Barbara in California where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts. She credits the nature of acting and the ever-embracing theatrical community for shaping her outgoing personality and passion for storytelling. “I’ve always loved storytelling. I think it’s the most human thing we can do. Even going back to the Stone Age…what have we always done? Sat around a fire and told stories,” she shared.

Prior to her role as Community Editor, Lidén worked as a preschool teacher. This was until last year, when at an audition for Elmwood Playhouse Lidén was introduced to former Community Editor Allison Lax. Lidén recalled, “[Allison] would always talk about her job and the interviews she was doing, and I thought she had the coolest job. I loved to hear about her interviews and I loved to hear about her stories. When I found out that she was leaving the Rockland County Times, I said ‘Do you mind if I interview?’” Equipped with a hunger to share stories and connect with her new community, Lidén landed the role.

Walter Sanchez, Chairman of BQE Media, Publisher of the RCT and a member of the press for 40 years, shared his perspective of Lidén. “The recipe and ingredients [of a good journalist] are somebody who cares, really cares about people, and understands that people make the community, and Sierra has that in spades. I think the understanding that Sierra has gained throughout the last year gave her the tools to be what the RCT needs as Managing Editor.”

During our chat, Lidén talked about the impact of Town Halls on her understanding and love for the community. Lidén said, “…[Getting to know] how the town works, how they’re making decisions, why they’re making decisions,  and the community members that I’ve gotten to meet at these town halls or the legislature has become one of my favorite parts of this job.”

Lidén gushed about how much joy and satisfaction her role in local journalism has given her. She said, “There’s a lot of tough stuff going on in the world…But something that I really love about [working for] a community newspaper is you also get to see a lot of the best sides of people.”

Rockland County Times is certainly in good hands. Here is an editor who understands this county through and through, and just how connected and tight-knit Rocklanders are in every sense. She spoke on how generations of families will often choose to stay in Rockland and how she believes that is why many community members are so incredibly passionate about making their homes a better place. “I’m very passionate, and I feel like that has helped me feel right at home in Rockland,” Lidén said.

Lidén is very excited to reach new goals at the RCT. One major goal is to continue prioritizing connections with the local community and leaders so that Rocklanders can continue having news they can trust about their hometowns, while also feeling like they have the ability to make an impact on their local news. Lidén encourages readers to reach out to the RCT. “I want to get out more and more and let people know that  we are here… We are a resource. We’re not sitting up in some ivory tower…you can reach out to us anytime.”

With her passion for people, storytelling and community, Sierra Lidén is ready to lead the Rockland County Times as we work together to turn the page on our next chapter.