James Willse
James Willse James "Jim" Willse is an American journalist who served as editor of The New York Daily News from 1989 to 1992 and of The Star-Ledger in New Jersey from 1995 until his retirement in 2009.
Early life
Willse was born on March 17, 1944 in Teaneck, New Jersey, and raised in Babylon, N.Y. He graduated from Hamilton College and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. In 1974-75, he was a Professional Journalism Fellow at Stanford University.[1]
Professional Journalism Career
Willse’s first newspaper job was as a copy boy at The New York Times. He left college in 1965 to be a reporter with The Southern Courier, a weekly that covered civil rights in Alabama. After graduating from Columbia, he was a reporter and editor with The Associated Press from 1969-1977, and city editor and managing editor with The San Francisco Examiner from 1977 to 1984. He joined The New York Daily News in 1985 as managing editor and was named editor in 1989.[2]
Associated Press
Willse joined the Associated Press in 1969,working as a reporter and editor on the New York national desk. Following a one-year fellowship at Stanford University, he joined the San Francisco Bureau in 1975 as news editor[3] He was working as a news editor when he was awarded the John S. Knight Journalism fellowship.
San Francisco Examiner
Willse left AP to join the San Francisco Examiner in 1977.
New York Daily News
Willse joined the Daily News as Managing Editor Willse served in the dual role of editor and publisher[4] of the Daily News during a five-month labor strike[5] at the Daily News, followed by the sale of the paper by Tribune Co. to British press lord Robert Maxwell. In 1991, following Maxwell’s death, he assumed the additional role of publisher. During that time, he oversaw the paper’s Chapter 11 reorganization and eventual sale in 1992 to current owner Mort Zuckerman.
Newark Star-Ledger
Willse joined Advance Newspapers later in 1992 as director of new media, and became editor of The Star-Ledger in January 1995. In 2000, the National Press Foundation named him Editor of the Year.[6] During his 15-year tenure, the newspaper was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize eight times, winning twice. Willse retired as editor in October 2009[7] and was succeeded by Kevin Whitmer.
References
- ↑ "John S. Knight Journalism Fellows at Stanford". Stanford University. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
- ↑ "Daily News Names New Editor". Associated Press. Associated Press. 14 September 1989. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ↑ Willse, James (21 February 1977). "Youngman's One-Liners Funny". The Evening News. Associated Press. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
- ↑ Diamond, Edwin (20 Jan 1992). "The Triumph of the Willse". New York Magazine (Vol 25, Issue 3) (New York Media). Retrieved 14 June 2014.
- ↑ Jones, Alex (12 January 1992). "Publisher of the News Charts a Tough Course". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
- ↑ Rieder, Rem. "Leading the Charge". American Journalism Review. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
- ↑ "Star-Ledger Editor Jim Willse Announces Retirement". Newark Star-Ledger. Star-Ledger News Desk. September 29, 2009.