The Dallas Express has named veteran media executive Jeff Schnick as its CEO.
Schnick brings 25 years of journalism experience to the role, more than half of which was spent at publications in North Texas. His most notable position was at the Dallas Business Journal, where he was promoted in December 2015 to Editor-in-Chief only a year into his tenure.
Prior to the Business Journal, Schnick served as an assistant news and business editor at The Dallas Morning News, which hired him in March 2007 from the Abilene Reporter-News, where he was the Assistant Managing Editor.
“We’re thrilled to have Jeff join The Dallas Express at a critical stage in the publication’s growth and evolution, given his considerable experience in one of the country’s most competitive and dynamic media markets,” said Publisher Monty Bennett. “He shares our passion for holding government officials accountable, sharing the stories of what makes Dallas unique and why we can never take for granted that our city will stay that way. That’s why we all must do our part to ensure it thrives,” said Bennett.
Originally from Northern Indiana, Schnick worked at newspapers in Tennessee and Florida before landing in West Texas in 2005. “My first introduction to the Lone Star State was the Big Country,” he said. “I’d never set foot in Texas before. Abilene was everything Americans who aren’t from here imagine the state to be: warm people, wide-open spaces, and a rugged self-reliance not seen in many places today.”
Despite being ten times larger, Dallas shares some of the same traits as Abilene, said Schnick, who posits that no major metro area can match DFW’s friendliness and approachable attitude to outsiders. “In Dallas, money and power intersect with cordiality. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Schnick said. “People here care deeply about their city and state. That’s why there are few Texas expatriates. They never leave, and why should they? Low taxes, lots of sun, and friendly neighbors. What’s not to like?”
One of the longest-tenured editors in the DBJ’s 45-year history, Schnick spent nearly nine years at the helm, bringing stability and consistency to a publication that experienced newsroom executive turnover in the years following the departure in 2007 of longtime editor Glenn Hunter.
Schnick, 44, said Bennett’s vision for the future of The Dallas Express was a significant factor in drawing him to the role. “He cares deeply for our city and its path forward. He understands the critical nature of speaking truth to power,” Schnick said. “He’s interested in making a difference, and so is the entire team. That’s what a career in journalism is all about: service to others and helping one’s community.”
A resident of East Dallas, Schnick said stories that benefit the city’s residents won’t always be flattering. “Far from it. We must follow the money — and the motivation of those who hold public office here.”
Earlier this summer, Schnick took a stand on the state’s tax-relief debate and how House Speaker Dade Phelan “didn’t deliver” during the legislative session on what he promised to voters.
“They had an unambiguous expectation that a conservative agenda would be passed when they voted for a Republican trifecta by such a wide margin,” Schnick said. “To thwart the will of the voters in such a manner was deceitful of Phelan. Regardless of your political party affiliation, that should concern everyone. That’s why I supported Dan Patrick’s forceful approach with the House on that issue. Elections are supposed to matter.”
Issues are inherently local, Schnick said. For example, the city council’s infighting over the 2024 budget and Dallas County’s “persistent ineptness with our tax dollars” is exactly why homegrown watchdog journalism is crucial, Schnick said.
“There’s a lot of growth in our region, and that’s cause for celebration,” he said. “However, it can mask certain issues that need attention. Right now, Texas benefits from that growth because companies and individuals are relocating en masse because some cities around the country are not considering the ramifications of their decisions. Politicians prefer to police themselves, but that doesn’t work. That’s why you need publications such as The Dallas Express.”
Schnick added that the newspaper’s core tenets of civic accountability, particularly the excessive growth of local governments, would remain the standard for readers, along with public safety, education, and a sizable dose of other “common-sense reporting.”
His first day at The Dallas Express is September 11. He can be reached at [email protected].