Business News
Gannett names David Hunke president, publisher of USA TODAY; John Hillkirk named editor of USA TODAY
Wednesday 29. April 2009 - David Hunke today was named president and publisher of USA TODAY. Hunke currently is chief executive officer of the Detroit Media Partnership and publisher of the Detroit Free Press.
The announcement was made by Craig Dubow, Gannett chairman, president and chief executive officer, at the companys Annual Shareholders Meeting here.
“Dave is a highly talented, multi-faceted leader, who drives excellence throughout his organization while making the tough business decisions. At the same time, he has the courage to be innovative and take chances. He is just the right person for USA TODAY at this juncture,” said Dubow. “I am thrilled he will be joining my executive team.”
Hunke headed the team that this month won the Pulitzer Prize for local reporting. He also led the Detroit Media Partnership through a ground-breaking transformation earlier this year which changed the way the two newspapers in the city are produced and delivered.
Also today, Hunke named John Hillkirk editor of USA TODAY. Hillkirk currently is executive editor of the newspaper.
Said Hunke: “John has taken on every challenge USA TODAY has thrown at him and not only succeeded, but did it with calm assurance and creativity. He is a top-notch journalist with great instincts who also understands and can articulate the future of the industry. Together, John and I can make a real difference at the nations newspaper.”
Hunke succeeds Craig Moon, who retired on April 17. Hillkirk succeeds Ken Paulson, who left in February.
USA TODAY is the flagship newspaper and Web site of Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) with a daily readership circulation of more than 3.5 million people and monthly unique visitors of more than 11.5 million.
Biographies
David Hunke has been CEO of the Detroit Media Partnership and publisher of the Detroit Free Press since 2005. Prior to that, he was president and publisher of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle from 1999 to 2005 and vice president of Advertising for the Cincinnati Enquirer from 1992-1999.
He began his journalism career in 1974 in advertising sales at the Kansas City Star. He held various sales positions beginning in 1977 with the Knight-Ridder company, including advertising director of The Miami Herald. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas with a BS in journalism.
John Hillkirk has been an editor and reporter at USA TODAY since the newspaper launched in 1982. He was named executive editor in 2004 after serving nine years as managing editor of the newspapers Money section. Prior to joining USA TODAY, he was a business reporter at the Times-Union in Rochester and the Valley Dispatch in Tarentum, PA.
He is the co-author of three books: “Xerox: American Samurai”; “Grots Guts and Genius”; and “A Better Idea: Redefining the Way Americans Work.” He is a graduate of Allegheny College in Meadville, PA.