Cindy Allen returns to Enid News & Eagle

The Enid News & Eagle has named Cindy Allen, an accomplished journalist and communications executive, as publisher and editor of the newspaper.

Allen succeeds longtime publisher Jeff Funk, who retired in December, and editor Rob Collins, who resigned last month to join a statewide news collaborative. She will start her dual role on Feb. 8.

It is a coming home of sorts for Allen. She served as the managing editor of the newspaper from 2002 to 2011 before moving to Oklahoma City to be with her geologist husband, Gerry Allen, who had been transferred there with Continental Resources.

Allen said she’s eager to return to Enid and the News & Eagle and to begin “working with the truly talented news, advertising and marketing teams.”

Her goal, she added, is to continue the newspaper’s active leadership role in the community by providing accurate and credible news coverage.

“The need for reliable and trusted journalism is more important today than ever,” Allen said.

Funk said the city and newspaper are fortunate Allen has returned to Enid.

“Cindy was very involved in Enid community activities during her previous tenure,” he said. “She has remained keenly aware of the issues facing Enid and Northwest Oklahoma even while working in Oklahoma City because she has extended family living in Enid.”

Collins, who served as executive editor of the News & Eagle for eight years, described Allen as a “great choice to return for this key leadership role in our community.”

During Allen’s previous term, she helped establish the annual Pillar of the Plains award and the Community Christmas Card initiative to benefit local public schools’ food backpack program. She also was active in Enid Rotary Club, Denny Price Family YMCA and United Way of Enid and Northwest Oklahoma.

A native of Shawnee and a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Allen’s journalism career prior to Enid included publisher of the Pittsburg (Kan.) Morning Sun and general manager of The Log Cabin Democrat in Conway, Ark.

From 2012 to 2016, Allen worked for Devon Energy in Oklahoma City in media relations, corporate and internal communications, and government and public affairs. She then joined the Oklahoma Oil & Gas Association as a communications consultant, creating strategies around oil and gas tax policy and earthquake mitigation.

Since 2017, she has served as external relations director for Parent Promise/Prevent Child Abuse Oklahoma, a nonprofit organization that works to prevent the abuse and neglect of children through parent education and support.

Cindy and Gerry’s daughter and son-in-law, Mitch and Ryan Zaloudek, and their two children reside in Enid. Their son and daughter-in-law, Aaron and Ashlea Allen, live in Oklahoma City.

As publisher and editor of the Enid News & Eagle, Allen will oversee all departments of the paper, the dominant source of news and advertising for Northwest Oklahoma — in print six days a week and online daily.

Additionally, the paper produces a lifestyle magazine, ETown, six times a year, and various special sections throughout the year.

Bill Ketter, senior vice president of news for the paper’s parent company, CNHI LLC, became familiar with Allen from her earlier work at the News & Eagle as the top newsroom executive. He said she “brings a tremendous amount of knowledge and enthusiasm to her work and inspires people working with her to do their best work as well.”

Source: Enid News & Eagle