Jonathan Reilly was elected Editor in Chief of Volume 154 of The Journal on Jan. 31.
With 36 ballots casted and a voter turnout of 90 per cent, Reilly received 28 votes in favour, earning 80 per cent support in a contested race. Candidates Cloey Aconely and Eva Sheahan earned seven votes or 20 per cent of the turnout, with one abstention.
Reilly, who currently serves as the Senior News Editor, and formerly Assistant News Editor in Vol. 152, said the win feels like the culmination of his entire time at The Journal.
“It’s an honour to be given this responsibility,” he said in an interview with The Journal.
He said his campaign period may have only lasted a few weeks, but the goal of becoming Editor in Chief stretches back to his earliest days at the paper.
“I built a lot of the skills that were able to allow me to run for this role,” he said.
Reilly said he’s especially looking forward to hiring next year’s masthead and expanding outreach during the recruitment process.
He also emphasized the significance of The Journal within the Queen’s community. “It has a super long history and being able to be a part of that is something that feels like bigger than myself.”
Current Editors in Chief Sarah Adams and Meghrig Milkon said they’re confident Reilly will carry that legacy forward.
“I’m so happy for him,” Adams said in an interview with The Journal. “Meg and I’ve gotten to see Jonathan grow and really step into his roles at The Journal.”
She emphasized that this wasn’t something Reilly wanted when the opportunity presented itself, but “it’s been on his mind since his first day.”
Milkon said Reilly has long been a reliable presence in the newsroom, especially under pressure.
“He very much deserves this job. I know he’s going to do very well.”
Both Adams and Milkon said they expect a smooth transition in the months ahead and noted Reilly has already begun preparing for the role.
They also acknowledged the other candidates who ran in the election, calling the campaign a strong and substantive contest.
“They had a great debate. I think the whole Journal should be proud,” Milkon said.
Reilly echoed that sentiment. “I think Cloey [Aconley] and Eva [Sheehan] were great candidatures, and I’m happy to work with them next year as well. It was a really good competition.”
Tags
Editor in Chief, Elections 2026, The Queen’s Journal
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