The former Metro Times editor will be inducted along with four other distinguished journalists during a ceremony at Michigan State University.
Heron, who was named managing editor in 1997 and editor in 2006, is stepping down to become a writer for the Kresge Foundation.
The San Francisco Bay Guardian's G.W. Schulz won "the coveted Public Service award" for his coverage of MediaNews Group's purchase of nearly all Bay Area daily newspapers. SPJ's panel of judges noted that the Bay Guardian "demonstrated by example the value of diversity in news media ownership." Eliza Strickland's examination of questionable practices at an expensive cooking school and how California has failed to regulate for-profit schools for SF Weekly won for investigative reporting, while East Bay Express' Kara Platoni took home the award for feature writing for her piece on gun violence and gun availability. The Society of Professional Journalists' Northern California Chapter will honor the winners at a Nov. 8 dinner.
Heron (pictured) was promoted from his position as managing editor to replace Ric Bohy, who left the paper two weeks ago. "Kim has had a huge hand in keeping our editorial staff together through many changes over the past few years. He has demonstrated unwavering integrity and has a truly honest work ethic," says Publisher Lisa Rudy in the Metro Times story announcing the change. Heron has been with Metro Times for nine years; he previously worked at the Detroit Free Press from 1979 to 1995. He is also known for "The Kim Heron Program," an FM jazz show that has had a 17-year run.
Co-associate publishers at Worcester Magazine are taking the pressure off owner-publisher Allen Fletcher as the parent company grows. Kathleen Real and Betsy Abeles-Kravitz, both seasoned alt-pub editors, continue to work with former publisher Peter Stanton, who’s now the parent company’s COO.
Larry Gabriel says he left Detroit's Metro Times because he was burned out and wanted to concentrate on writing. W. Kim Heron is acting editor. Gabriel's departure leaves a gap in the thin ranks of African-American editorial staff at AAN papers.
