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Justin Blitchok

Dustin Blitchok is the new editor-in-chief of the Metro Times, the paper announces.

Blitchok, 26, previously was a reporter at The Oakland Press, where he covered Pontiac. In May 2015, he went to work as communications director for Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner.

Blitchok, a Midtown resident who wrote for the Grosse Pointe Today news site while attending Wayne State, starts Feb. 25, the paper reports.

Vince Grzegorek, editor-in-chief at Euclid Media Group sister paper Cleveland Scene, had served as interim editor since early 2015. He replaced Valerie Vande Panne, who lasted less than nine months and clashed with the owners. 

“I think there was a difference in editorial vision and management style. I’m very proud of the work we did at Metro Times,” Vande Panne told Crain’s in January 2015.

Regional publisher Chris Keating is quoted in Metro Times as saying:

"We were exceedingly impressed with Dustin's abilities, knowledge of Detroit, and his ideas for bringing both to the Metro Times. We're excited for Dustin to get started with the talented MT team."

A Sterling Heights advertising copywriter writer who worked with Blitchok at The Oakland Press tweets this reaction with a link to the announcement:

The 31-year-old editor of BLAC Detroit magazine chimes in:

Read more: Metro Times