Maria Reeve in Houston; Katrice Hardy in Dallas
ESPN, Maria Taylor Split; Next Stop May Be NBC
Patricia Mays in a Top Role at Hollywood Reporter
Maria Reeve in Houston; Katrice Hardy in Dallas
In an unprecedented development, the Houston Chronicle named Managing Editor Maria Reeve as its new executive editor, followed within 24 hours by the Dallas Morning News announcing a second Black woman, Katrice Hardy, executive editor of the Indianapolis Star, as its new newsroom leader.
“The Dallas Morning News has named Katrice Hardy, a veteran journalist whose newsrooms have a track record of award-winning reporting, to be its next top editor,” Maria Halkias reported Wednesday for the Morning News.
Halkias noted that Hardy, 47, is “currently executive editor at the Indianapolis Star, which won this year’s Pulitzer Prize for national reporting, and Midwest regional editor for the USA Today Network.
“Hardy becomes the first woman and Black journalist to hold The News’ top newsroom job. She also led newsrooms in Virginia and South Carolina before joining The Star in March 2020.”
In Houston, “Reeve, 53, joined the Chronicle from the Star Tribune in Minneapolis, where she served in various roles including assistant managing editor of news, assistant features editor and deputy metro editor,” Paul Takahashi reported Tuesday, updated Wednesday, for the Chronicle. “She previously worked for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in Saint Paul, Minn. She started her journalism career as a general assignment reporter at The Bradenton Herald in Florida, where she covered transportation and the environment.
“Reeve joined the Chronicle four months before the coronavirus pandemic broke out. She oversaw the newspaper’s coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, the historic oil bust and the Texas blackouts — all while managing a remote staff.”
Reeve, active in the National Association of Black Journalists, was president of its Twin Cities chapter. Houston has been called the nation’s most diverse city. Reeve told Journal-isms that while the newsroom’s diversity numbers weren’t immediately available, “As for wanting to improve them, that is a goal, especially if we intend to reflect the community, which we do.”
Takahashi also wrote, “Reeve said she plans to accelerate the reinvention of the 120-year-old newspaper into a multi-platform media company, with a particular emphasis on online journalism.”
Hardy chairs the Diversity Committee of the News Leaders Association, which resulted from the merger of the American Society of News Editors and the Associated Press Managing Editors.
“Hardy said she’s excited to see ‘so much diversity’ in the Dallas community. She spent time this week visiting schools for her daughter and exploring neighborhoods,” Halkias wrote.
Halkias added that “only a handful of Black women have been the top editor of an American newspaper. In the past few months, a number of major U.S. newspapers have appointed Black executive editors to lead their newsrooms. . . .
“ ‘It’s important to acknowledge the historical significance of the appointments of Katrice Hardy in Dallas and Maria Reeve in Houston as two of the top editors in the U.S.,’ said Debra Adams Simmons, executive editor, culture at National Geographic and a mentor to Hardy. ‘Just a few short years ago, there was less than a handful of black women running newsrooms. This is an important moment.’
“Simmons said Hardy will ‘survey the landscape and fairly quickly identify opportunities for growth in Dallas.’
“ ‘Katrice is the editor who can help The Dallas Morning News meet the moment — in the work you create and in the relationships you build in the greater community,’ Simmons said. “
In Houston, the Houston Association of Black Journalists posted about Reeve on Facebook: “Huge congrats to Maria Reeve — Houston Chronicle’s FIRST Black Editor in Chief! ✍? We are so proud of you and the trail you’ve blazed. Women and people of color are capable of dynamic things. We just need the same doors opened.”
- Mary C. Curtis, Roll Call: Black women — now and then — lead a recalcitrant America toward justice
ESPN, Maria Taylor Split; Next Stop May Be NBC
“ESPN and Maria Taylor, an up-and-coming on-air personality, have parted ways in the wake of an internal controversy that spilled into the public arena and drew new scrutiny of diversity policies at the Disney-owned sports-media giant,” Brian Steinberg reported Wednesday for Variety.
Andrew Marchand added for the New York Post, “and she is headed to NBC and will cover the Olympics, The Post has learned. . . . For NBC, Taylor is expected to be part of its forthcoming Olympic coverage that begins in earnest on Friday. . . .
“With NBC, Taylor also could be waiting in the on-deck circle to become the host of ‘Football Night in America,’ when Mike Tirico moves to the full-time ’Sunday Night Football’ play-by-play position in the fall of 2022. It is not fully set that Taylor will replace Tirico, but seems as if it could be a potential fit. Taylor could also have a role on Notre Dame football this season.
Steinberg continued, “ ‘There is no doubt we will miss Maria, but we remain determined to continue to build a deep and skilled talent roster that thoroughly reflects the athletes we cover and the fans we serve,’ said Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN’s chairman, in a prepared statement. ‘While she chose to pursue a new opportunity, we are proud of the work we’ve done together.’
“Taylor’s last on-air appearance for ESPN came Tuesday night during coverage of the last game of the NBA Finals.
“Her departure would seem to cap a period of inner discord at ESPN. In July of last year, basketball correspondent Rachel Nichols was caught on video speaking to representatives of LeBron James about ESPN’s decision to have Taylor host ESPN’s basketball report, ‘NBA Countdown,’ during 2020’s NBA Finals. Her comments were recorded by a video camera she had left on and subsequently uploaded into ESPN’s system, where the footage was discovered and distributed by an employee.
“Nichols was frustrated that she hadn’t gotten the role, and suggested that ESPN’s interest in paying more attention to diversity was a factor in the decision. The matter boiled over after the New York Times reported that some employees who helped produce ESPN’s basketball coverage may have been choosing sides, and has drawn comments from Adam Silver, the NBA Commissioner. . . .”
The National Association of Black Journalists said in a statement Wednesday, “ESPN President James Pitaro has agreed to meet with the NABJ leadership team the first week of August to discuss the current situation and what his team plans to do, in collaboration with NABJ, to address the multiple challenges facing the network.
“ ‘ Our members who either work at ESPN or formerly worked at ESPN are sharing with us deeply troubling stories of their experience there,’ said NABJ President Dorothy Tucker. ‘We are obviously disturbed by what we are hearing and are eager to meet with ESPN to assist them in long-overdue changes that will lead to a positive work environment for Black journalists and media professionals.’ ”
Patricia Mays in a Top Role at Hollywood Reporter
“
The Hollywood Reporter has found its executive editor of news,” the show business publication reported Monday.
“Patricia Mays (pictured), who comes to THR from ESPN, will oversee the digital strategy of the award-winning publication across the brand, including its recently relaunched website. Mays will start her new position Aug. 16.
“ ‘Patricia is a dynamic leader who will be an incredible asset to an already stellar newsroom, one known for breaking news, investigative journalism, revealing features and eye-catching visuals,’ said Nekesa Mumbi Moody (pictured), THR’s editorial director. ‘Patricia’s expertise in digital and proven track record, coupled with her ability to produce unique, compelling journalism across multiple mediums, will allow THR to further distinguish itself as the leader in entertainment and industry news.’
The story also said, “Mays has been instrumental in leading the production of award-winning feature content, capturing a Sports Emmy and successfully orchestrating cross-platform integration across TV, digital, audio and direct-to-consumer. During her tenure as executive editor for ESPN Digital Media, ESPN was the No. 1 online sports destination in audience metrics and time spent. Before joining ESPN in 2009, Mays was sports editor at The Press-Enterprise newspaper in Southern California and worked for The Associated Press for a decade in various key roles, including as assistant sports editor.”
Can Journalism Solve Urban Problems?
July 20, 2021
Temple J-School Launches Investigative Unit
Paul Cheung to Lead Center for Public Integrity
Homepage photo: The scene of a triple shooting in Philadelphia last week, at Keim and East Ontario streets. (Credit: Jessica Griffin/Philadelphia Inquirer)
Temple J-School Launches Investigative Unit
“Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication will soon launch a Center for Urban Investigative Reporting, thanks to a $1.2 million founding grant from the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation of Berkeley, California,” the college announced Tuesday.
Asked how many other universities have such centers, Dean David Boardman (pictured) messaged Journal-isms, “Not sure. I know of several: Berkeley, Maryland, Arizona State, for starters. But I believe ours will be the only one exclusively focused on urban issues and dedicated to community input and engagement. “
He said the school was seeking a director.
The announcement came as the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that, “An average of more than 10 people have been shot per day in Philadelphia in July, as of Sunday. That July pace is 53% higher than last year, and 159% higher than 2019.”
Two weeks ago, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a new state of emergency around gun violence and committed almost $139 million to reverse the trend of rising shootings and murders across the state. Cuomo said it was the first by a state to address gun violence, Ashley Southall reported for The New York Times.
According to Temple’s Klein College news release, “The Jonathan Logan Family Foundation Center for Urban Investigative Reporting will focus exclusively on the issues facing Philadelphia and other large American cities, including gun violence, economic inequality, education and health disparities, crumbling infrastructure and eroding trust in institutions.
“Through the Logan Center, Klein students and faculty will report aggressively not only on these problems, but on potential solutions, closely examining what has worked well in other cities across the nation and the globe.”
Boardman is also vice chair of the Solutions Journalism Network. That organization says on its website, “As news avoidance and distrust grow, solutions journalism has rapidly grown from an ‘extra’ to a must-have for newsrooms building or repairing relationships with their communities. These results reveal the extent to which audiences respond to solutions journalism in ways that can strengthen local news.”
“Klein has long had a ‘teaching hospital’ model for preparing students for careers in journalism and other communications professions, giving them a strong foundation in theory and research along with myriad opportunities to hone their skills on campus and in the community. Through the college’s Philadelphia Neighborhoods capstone class, students report from areas of North and West Philadelphia that are largely overlooked by mainstream media. . . .”
- Solutions Journalism Network: Francine Huff joins Solutions Journalism Network as director of journalism school partnerships
- Helen Ubiñas, Philadelphia Inquirer: Mayor Kenney’s decision not to declare gun violence an emergency is an act of cowardice
Paul Cheung to Lead Center for Public Integrity
Paul Cheung (pictured), a past president of the Asian American Journalists Association and most recently director of journalism and technology innovation at the Knight Foundation, has been named CEO of the Center for Public Integrity. He “will lead one of the country’s oldest nonprofit news organizations in its mission of investigative reporting about inequality,” the Washington-based organization said Monday.
In a question-and-answer on the Center’s website, Cheung said, “Public Integrity has a rich history of holding the powerful accountable, and I want to use that power to hold those people and systems who are perpetuating or worsening inequality accountable as well as uplifting those who are solving the problems of inequality.
“My vision is for us to be the leading newsroom in America in equipping and inspiring change makers with our investigative journalism to reverse the effects of inequalities.”
Cheung previously worked at NBC News Digital, the Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal and the Miami Herald, and he is a board member of the News Leaders Association.
As Kristin Hare reported Monday for the Poynter Institute, Cheung “succeeds Susan Smith Richardson, who became deputy editor of The Guardian US earlier this year. Cheung is the first Asian American to lead the Center for Public Integrity, which was founded in 1989 and is an investigative, nonprofit news organization.”
On his LinkedIn profile, Chung emphasizes his background in technology. “I manage a multimillion dollar investment portfolio at the Knight Foundation. My key investment areas include scaling AI [artificial intelligence], business sustainability solutions, and mitigating misinformation,” he wrote.
“With more than 20 years of experience at the forefront of digital transformation in the media — pioneering AI, data journalism, AR/VR [Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality], visual storytelling and digital training strategies, I am ready to lead media companies looking to launch breakthrough ideas from concept to reality across new digital and emerging technology platforms.”
AAJA membership declined during Chung’s four years as president, as newsrooms shrank, but in his farewell message in 2016, Cheung listed these successes:
- “Partnering with more than 30 community groups to host the first Asian American Presidential Town Hall, which featured principals and surrogates from all major campaigns.
- “Launching ‘The Heartland Project,’ a first-of-its-kind partnership among the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to help newsrooms in the
- “Cornhusker State do a better job in covering communities of color and LGBT issues.
- “Acquiring more than $300,000 in grants and sponsorships to reboot AAJA’s signature journalism programs, including the Executive Leadership Program.
- “Holding newsrooms accountable by aggressively responding — via our MediaWatch team — to unfair, irresponsible and inaccurate coverage of our communities.”
Cheung advocated for keeping AAJA in the Unity: Journalists of Color coalition after the National Association of Black Journalists and National Association of Hispanic Journalists pulled out, and AAJA remained until Unity dissolved in 2018.
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