A long-time Chicago Tribune journalist and a 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalist has been named the next executive editor of the Journal & Courier (Lafayette).
Howard Witt, currently senior managing editor of the Stars and Stripes in Washington, D.C., assumed the J&C’s top editor job June 24.
Witt replaces former editor Michael Davis, who earlier this year departed to lead the Salem Statesman Journal in Oregon.
Witt has been at Stars and Stripes since 2009.
Before that he spent a collective 27 years working for the Chicago Tribune, rising from a general assignment reporter in 1982 to the company’s Houston bureau chief from 2003 to 2009.
He also spent stints as chief operating officer of MinorityInterest.com in 2000 and editor in chief of Washington D.C. City Paper from 2000 to 2001.
During his career, Witt has uncovered stories that led to a $9 million court award for the victim of a racially motivated beating and the release from prison of a 14-year-old girl.
– Journal & Courier (Lafayette)
