The Deseret Morning News board of directors on Friday approved a new member: Clark Gilbert, who is managing director of student activities and peer instruction at Brigham Young University-Idaho.

He said he has watched the newspaper industry for the past decade as it has made the transition to an increasingly online audience.

"I hope what I can help bring is a perspective on changes in how new media will expand the potential reach of the Deseret Morning News' audience," Gilbert said.

His current research examines how the newspaper industry has responded to the Internet by comparing the new media ventures of the top 100 newspapers in the United States.

"I'm very supportive of where the management (of the Deseret Morning News) is taking it," Gilbert said. He also said he believes there is great interest outside the state about news in Utah that the paper can target.

He said an important component of growing the reach and circulation of the paper will be tapping into the worldwide audience of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In addition to his research, Gilbert has consulted for media companies including Tribune Corp., Gannett, Knight Ridder and the New York Times. He is also the co-author of an American Press Institute study, "Newspaper Next."

Prior to joining BYU-Idaho, Gilbert was a professor of entrepreneurial management at Harvard University's business school.

He graduated summa cum laude from Brigham Young University and later earned a master's degree from Stanford University and a doctorate from the Harvard Business School.

"Clark is a great addition to our team — because of his unparalleled experience in the newspaper industry," said Ellis R. Ivory, chairman of the Deseret Morning News board of directors. "He will be a big help in charting and executing our plans for the future."

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E-mail: jlee@desnews.com