BIDDEFORD — A longtime journalist who was raised in Saco has been named associate editor of the Journal Tribune.

Dina Mendros will lead the newsroom beginning today, with the help of assistant editor Jeff Lagasse, a Maine native who was raised in Lewiston.

Both have worked at the newspaper for the past several years. Mendros lives in Saco, having returned home some years ago from Philadelphia to help care for an ill family member. Lagasse has lived in Biddeford since 2007.

The change comes with the departure of city editor Robyn Burnham, who has chosen to return to college to pursue a career in science.

“Dina has an extensive, varied background in different media and a great deal of experience in newspapers,” said publisher Bruce Hardina. “She’s done a great job covering Biddeford. I think she’ll do a great job as our associate editor.”

He said Lagasse is ready to step into the assistant editor’s role.

Hardina pointed out that Burnham had worked “very, very hard” at the newspaper, and wished her well in her new field.

Mendros’ career encompasses stints as a producer for a Philadelphia public television station, a reporter for a Philadelphia newspaper, and a producer and program coordinator for the Philadelphia Independent Media Center. She has also coordinated stories for the nationally syndicated news magazine Inside Edition, based in Los Angeles. She has been an adjunct professor of anthropology both at Temple University in Philadelphia and at the University of New England.

She’s at home working in the Journal Tribune newsroom, where she began covering the Kennebunks in 2006, before moving to the Biddeford beat, which she has covered for the past several years.

Mendros began her career as an intern at WGME Channel 13. She was a news reporter and anchor for WCDQ in Sanford and later a news director, reporter and anchor for WIDE in Biddeford, both in the mid-1980s.

The Journal Tribune’s history dates back to the 1800s ”“ to the days of the Biddeford Journal and the Sanford Tribune. The newspapers merged in 1977.

“The Biddeford Journal was the first newspaper I read growing up,” said Mendros. “It has a long, rich history and I want to help ensure its existence for the future.”

She pointed out that York County is the destination for those moving to Maine from other New England states and beyond, and it’s also a destination of choice for people moving from within Maine.

“I hope the paper will grow as the county grows,” she said.

In addition to her editing duties, Mendros plans to keep her hand in writing stories, helping out on the Biddeford news beat. Angelo Verzoni, a Boston University graduate who started working part-time at the Journal Tribune a couple of months ago and is now working full-time, will cover Biddeford, as well as perform some copy editing.

Lagasse, the new assistant editor, joined the Journal Tribune in 2007 as a sports writer and later transitioned to photographer. He’s been a reporter, and will continue to write stories for Kennebunk and Arundel, along with serving his editing duties.

“Its gratifying to come in and give it my best effort every day and be recognized by being chosen as associate editor,” said Lagasse. “I look forward to continuing on the legacy of my predecessors.”

Rounding out the news staff are longtime reporters Liz Gotthelf, whose beat includes Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Dayton and Lyman, and this reporter, who covers Sanford, York County government, Waterboro and some of the rural towns west of the turnpike.

Reporter Wil Kramlich and sports editor Pat MacDonald, who joined the staff in November from the Morning Times in Sayre, Pennsylvania, make up the Journal Tribune’s sports department.

Reviewing the newsroom changes, Hardina said he’s looking to the future.

“I’m wicked enthused about what’s to come,” he said.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].