Star Tribune Media Co. Names Assistant Managing Editor of Visuals

Star Tribune Media Co. has named Derek Simmons to the newly created position of assistant managing editor of visuals. In his new role, reflecting the changing nature of how readers access Star Tribune’s award-winning content, Simmons will lead design initiatives across all visual journalism in Star Tribune print and online editions, mobile and tablet apps, Vita.mn, StribExpress, and Twin Cities Values.

Simmons rejoins Star Tribune after six years as deputy design director with The Los Angeles Times, where he was immersed in daily online and print production as well as the presentation of special coverage including the Academy Awards, the NBA Finals, and other high-profile events. Since 2007, that design team has earned more Society for News Design awards every year than any other organization, including for the design and production of the Times’s first editorial app for the iPad. In total, Simmons has earned more than 100 awards from the Society for News Design, including seven Portfolio awards and seven silver medals. He has also been named the Designer of the Year by the Los Angeles Press Club and The Los Angeles Times’ Designer of the Year, and earned Star Tribune’s Publisher’s Award in 2005.

“I join the entire Star Tribune team—and our readers as well—in welcoming Derek back to Minnesota,” said Rene Sanchez, editor and senior vice president of Star Tribune. “He is the ideal journalist to lead all of our visual work into a digital era, and to enhance our print presentation.”