This post was originally published on St. Louis American
By K. Michael Jones
Recently, two Black women were named to top editor positions at the two largest newspapers in Texas, within the same week. Maria Douglas Reeve was promoted to executive editor of the Houston Chronicle and Katrice Hardy was named executive editor of the Dallas Morning News. It is the first time that either one of those papers had been led by an African American. They join other Black women who are now leading major news outlets in the U.S.
Maria Douglas Reeve claims “I’m a news junkie with more than 20 years experience in local news, politics and features. I get especially jazzed helping reporters and editors do their best work online and in print. Prior to being named executive editor, she served as managing editor/content for the Houston Chronicle. Before the Chronicle, she served as assistant managing editor and as deputy metro editor for the Star Tribune (Minnesota). She has also been the politics reporter, public safety team leader and suburban team leader for St. Paul Pioneer Press. She began her career as a reporter for the Bradenton Herald (Florida).
Katrice Hardy was named executive editor of the Dallas Morning News in late July. She was previously the executive editor of the Indianapolis Star and the Midwest regional editor for the USA Today Network. Hardy, who joined the Indianapolis Star’s parent company Gannett in 2016, was named editor of the Star in March 2020 and also served as the regional editor for the Midwest, overseeing more than two dozen Gannett newsrooms throughout Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. She was the first African American and the first woman to serve as executive editor of the Star. Hardy was editor of Gannett’s Greenville News in South Carolina and regional editor for the South, overseeing newsrooms in Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina and her native Louisiana. She spent more than two decades at the Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, where she held a variety of positions before becoming managing editor.
Other Black women recently put in charge of major newsrooms include:
Kim Godwin is not only the first Black executive and first Black woman to head ABC News as its president but also the first Black executive and Black woman to head a broadcast network news operation. In April, Godwin was named president of ABC News today by Peter Rice, chairman of Disney General Entertainment Content, to whom she will report. Godwin will oversee editorial and business operations for broadcast, digital, streaming and audio news across the organization which includes trusted and iconic franchises “Good Morning America,” “World News Tonight,” “20/20,” “Nightline,” FiveThirtyEight, “The View” and “This Week.” Godwin had worked at CBS News since 2007. She started as a senior producer for its evening news show, which at the time was anchored by Katie Couric. She was eventually put in charge of global newsgathering as the network’s executive vice president of news. Godwin began her career running local newsrooms in markets across the U.S. including New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Philadelphia and Cleveland.
Patricia Mays was named executive editor of news for The Hollywood Reporter in August. She will oversee the digital strategy of the award-winning publication including its recently relaunched website. Prior to the Reporter, Mays worked at ESPN where she oversaw the national coverage team of correspondents, field producers and assignment desk editors for ESPN’s flagship news program, SportsCenter, as well as other TV studio shows, live events and digital. 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.
Vickie Walton-James is chief national editor for NPR News. She oversees a desk of more than 40 reporters, editors and producers based in Washington, D.C., and in more than a dozen bureaus around the country. National Desk correspondents cover domestic breaking news and beats that include immigration, criminal justice and national security across all NPR platforms. Before assuming her current position in 2014, Walton-James was the network’s deputy national editor and held other senior management positions.
A 2018 survey by the American Society of News Editors found that only 7.19% of full-time newsroom employees were Black, and only about 20% of those Black employees were in any type of leadership position.
Select non-profits led by people of color to receive training
In St. Louis, ten local non-profit groups led by people of color are receiving training from the Stronger Nonprofits Initiative program on how to navigate systemic barriers to accessing capital and real estate opportunities by acknowledging disparities in lending and providing resources and tools to increase capacity and build connections to networks. Those non-profits are: Beginning Futures, Cornerstone Group, Good Journey Development Foundation, The Haven of Grace, North Newstead Association, Northside Community Housing Inc., Refuge and Restoration, Rise Community Development, Tabernacle Community Development Corp. and Unleashing Potential.
IFF, a mission-driven lender, developer, and consultant that helps communities thrive, started the Stronger Nonprofits Initiative (SNI) in 2017. SNI’s 14-month curriculum includes online virtual training sessions focused on team-based nonprofit financial management, combined with peer learning, one-on-one financial coaching, customized real estate consulting, and special networking opportunities. The program is offered through the Midwest, with cohorts based in Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, St. Louis, and Cleveland.
Delmar Gardens hosting career fair
Delmar Gardens Enterprises, Inc., is hosting a Nurses’ Career Fair on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, 8am4:30pm, at their headquarters located at 14805 North Outer 40 Road, Chesterfield, MO 63017.
Registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), certified nurse aides (CNAs), certified medication technicians (CMTs) and nurse aides (NAs) are encouraged to attend and learn about newly increased wage scales, quick pay sign-on bonuses, flexible schedule options, tuition reimbursement, loan forgiveness, 401(k) with company match, excellent health and dental plans, free certification classes to become a CNA and much more!
Interviews and hiring will be conducted on-the-spot for attendees both in-person and virtually.
Visit DelmarGardens.com/FAIR for more information and a Zoom link to attend virtually. You may also call 636-733-7000 to find out more.