By: E&P Staff Pearl Stewart, who in 1992 at The Oakland (Calif.) Tribune became the first African-American woman to be the top editor of a metro newspaper, will begin work as the managing editor of the Chicago Defender on Jan. 3.
"Her vast experience fits in perfectly with the changes we have incorporated at the Chicago Defender, and puts us in position to further establish our product as the pre-eminent news and information source for African-Americans in Chicago and the United States," the Defender's executive editor, Roland S. Martin, said in a statement.
Stewart comes to the Chicago Defender from Florida A&M University's School of Journalism and Graphic Communication, where she served as director of career-development services and a journalism instructor since 2000. Her academic experience includes stints as instructor, journalist-in-residence, or fellow at Louisiana State University, Dillard University, Xavier University, Howard University, and Harvard University.
"I view this as an opportunity to be a part of the renaissance of an important newspaper," Stewart said. "The Chicago Defender has a rich history and a promising future."
During her two separate periods at the Tribune, Stewart was a reporter and features editor, and then, in 1992, editor of the paper, for which she also wrote a weekly column. She has been a columnist, reporter, or editor for several newspapers and publications, including The Express in Berkeley, Calif., the San Francisco Chronicle, and Black Issues in Higher Education.
In 2002, Stewart founded Black College Wire, which provides stories from journalism students at historically black colleges and universities.
Stewart earned her bachelor of arts in Afro-American Studies/Journalism from Howard University in 1971 and a master's from American University in 1972.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here