Washington Post National editor Kevin Merida is ascending to the managing editor spot vacated last month by Liz Spayd, according to an announcement by the paper. With Merida’s promotion, the Post is getting its first African-American managing editor—and a reshuffle of portfolios for Merida and the paper’s other managing editor, John Temple.
“[Merida] is a journalist of remarkable accomplishment, but also a warm and caring colleague. And he has a record of proven leadership,” Executive EditorMartin Baron wrote in a morning memo to staff.
Merida, who joined the paper in 1993, grew up in Southeast Washington and Prince George’s County. He’s taking over many of the editorial departments originally assigned to Temple when he joined the paper last year:
In his new position, Kevin will be able to easily and quickly deploy reporters and editors across all departments that report to him, including National, Foreign, Metro, Business, Sports, Investigations, Outlook, Style, Arts, Travel, Food, Local Living, Weekend/Going Out Guide, and the magazine.
Meanwhile, Temple’s now in charge of digital, in an arrangement that appears to be similar to what tech-focused Managing Editor Raju Narisetti handled before he left the paper in 2012.
