A lot can change in a year.

That’s what the Post Publishing Board learned when it named junior Matt Zapotosky next year’s editor in chief.

Although he applied unsuccessfully for the position as a sophomore, he said he knows he is better prepared this time around.

“My vision is much broader than it was last year,” he said. “While hard news is still important to me, I see the bigger picture of design and features.”

The 12-member publishing board — with student, faculty, administration and local resident representatives — named Zapotosky to the position with a 9-0 vote.

“People thought he had changed dramatically since last year,” said Pat Washburn, journalism professor and chair of the board. “He’s got a better attitude and is more grown up. People on the board felt extremely comfortable voting for him.”

A news writing and editing journalism major, Zapotosky won’t abandon his investigative journalism background. He plans to create an investigative projects team and increase staff knowledge of public records requests.

“He has a lot of good thoughts to make the paper better for readers,” said Brittany Kress, current editor in chief. “He’s got a great understanding of how the paper works.”

Zapotosky, the paper’s current associate editor, joined The Post during his freshman year as a city staff writer. Since then, he has held positions as city editor and senior writer.

With his internships and Post experience, Zapotosky has experience in news, features, editorials and editing, all of which make him a prime candidate for the job, said Ellie Behling, managing editor.

“He’s just a really smart journalist,” Behling said. “He’s soaked in so much.”

Zapotosky’s resume includes internships at the Columbus Dispatch and Toledo Free Press. This summer, he will write for the southern Maryland bureau of The Washington Post.