Anders Gyllenhaal has been executive editor of the Miami Herald since 2007 and shepherded the once-great paper through some of its darker times. Though the economy certainly played a heavy role, it's difficult to pinpoint what part of his performance made him deserving of a promotion. Yet the paper's parent company, McClatchy, has named Gyllenhaal the new vice president of news and Washington editor. Managing editor Aminda "Mindy" Marques Gonzalez will succeed him as the new executive editor in Miami.
Unlike Gyllenhaal, Marques Gonzalez has strong roots in Miami. A native of Hialeah, she started her career with the Herald in 1986. After working her way up to deputy metro editor, she left in 2002 to become People magazine's Miami Bureau chief, and returned in 2007 to launch Miami.com, the paper's entertainment site.
She most recently served as managing editor, a promotion she only received in May, and effective November 1st will be the new executive editor of the Herald. She will be the paper's first Latina editor.
"As vice president, news, Gyllenhaal joins McClatchy's senior management team as the top news executive in the company. That role was last held by Howard Weaver, who retired from McClatchy at the end of 2008. As Washington editor, Gyllenhaal will oversee the McClatchy Washington Bureau and McClatchy's foreign news bureaus. Gyllenhaal will be based in Washington, D.C," reads a press release describing Gyllenhaal's new role.
"Not only is Anders one of the nation's leading editors, he's also one of the most forward-thinking. He's long been an advocate of innovative storytelling, experimentation and digital journalism. We're thrilled to amplify his voice, ideas and experiences in this role, which will benefit our entire company," said Gary Pruitt, McClatchy's chairman and chief executive officer, in a statement.
We're hard pressed to recall the Herald's successful and innovative forays into "experimentation and digital journalism." Mostly the paper has hosted news from local blogs and community newspapers on its site, while including reader's Twitter messages in front page stories.
We'll be interested to see what kind of innovation Marques brings to the Herald. Hopefully it will draw more form her hard news experience, and less from her experience as a celebrity tabloid editor.
