After five years at the helm, Matt Phelps has stepped down as editor of the Bothell-Kenmore Reporter and Kirkland Reporter newspapers.

Phelps spent nearly two decades in journalism, the majority of which was at Sound Publishing, owner the Reporter publications. Prior to becoming editor of the two publications, he covered a variety of Puget Sound-area communities including Whidbey Island and Mercer Island.

Phelps will be working in communications for Snohomish County Public Works.

Samantha Pak will replace Phelps as editor of the Bothell-Kenmore Reporter and Kirkland Reporter.

Prior to joining the publications, Pak spent six and a half years covering the Redmond community as reporter for the Redmond Reporter, which is also owned by Sound Publishing. Before that, she spent a year as a freelance journalist covering the greater Seattle area and a year as education reporter at the Post Register newspaper in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Pak graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in journalism in June 2008.