The Sun Journal has added a new reporter to the newsroom while moving a veteran journalist onto the Lewiston beat.

Matthew Jaroncyk started Tuesday as a general assignment reporter with a particular focus on Lewiston, Auburn and greater Androscoggin County.

At the same time, Joe Charpentier has taken over coverage of Lewiston, including city politics, culture and development. He replaces Andrew Rice, who left after nine years at the Sun Journal to become the City Hall reporter at the Portland Press Herald.

“We’re excited to have a new reporter on the ground to help bring our readers the best and most impactful stories out of Lewiston-Auburn and the rest of western Maine,” said Ben Bragdon, Sun Journal managing editor. “And we couldn’t be more thrilled to have a journalist as experienced as Joe ready to give Lewiston readers the stories they want and need.”

Jaroncyk comes to the Sun Journal following stints at Spectrum News in Portland and FOX Bangor/ABC 7 in Bangor. He lives in Lewiston. He can be reached at [email protected].

“I am excited for this opportunity and cannot wait to write about all Lewiston and Auburn has to offer,” Jaroncyk said.

Charpentier has been with the Sun Journal since 2022. He recently covered environmental news for the region, as well as courts and crime. He was previously a reporter in Maine’s midcoast region.

He can be reached at [email protected].

Charpentier’s recent work includes one of the first glimpses into the treatment of a Mainer detained by ICE at a facility in Massachusetts, as well as reporting on how residents felt as federal authorities ramped up operations in Lewiston.

As an environmental reporter, Charpentier covered conservation deals, lake health, and local response to the challenges of climate change.

“After working at the Sun Journal for the past three-and-a-half years on the crime and courts and environmental beats, I’m excited to step into the new role,” Charpentier said. “I’m eager to keep Lewiston readers up to date on the important developments out of City Hall and on the decisions that impact the daily lives of thousands.”