RESUME: Tom Stites, Friday luncheon speaker

A-CONFERENCE
RESUME: Tom Stites, Friday luncheon speaker
By
Apr 18, 2007, 09:09

C. THOMAS STITES

In Tom Stites's long career, he has been a reporter, columnist, critic, national correspondent, and an editor at major newspapers including The Kansas City Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Chicago Tribune, and The New York Times. He retired in June, 2007, after a decade as the editor /publisher of UU World, the national magazine of Unitarian Universalism, and after a hiatus as a resident fellow at Harvard Divinity School, is a consulting editor to the Center for Public Integrity in Washington.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

1997-2007 Unitarian Universalist Association, Boston, Mass.

As editor and publisher, overhauled and redesigned the denomination’s 125,000-circulation national magazine, UU World, and as director of communications oversees publishing for this 200,000-member religious community; developed and launched new periodicals and established new Office of Electronic Communications. Member, executive staff council.

1990-1997 Andrews McMeel Universal, Kansas City, Mo.

As publisher of Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion, launched company’s first magazine. Previously, vice president/UniMedia, a division that started new ventures including on-line publishing and other electronic media. Brought in America: What Went Wrong?, the No. 1 best-seller by Donald Barlett and James Steele, for the Andrews and McMeel book publishing subsidiary. Member, corporate steering committee.

1985-1990 The Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Ill.

As national editor, supervised 15 national correspondents in determining how The Tribune covered national news. Previously, associate managing editor for special projects; editor of Tempo, The Tribune’s daily feature section, and national correspondent. Supervised an array of ambitious reporting efforts that won major journalism prizes, including the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for explanatory journalism. Editor of Ann Landers.

1983-1984 The Kansas City Times, Kansas City, Mo.

As managing editor, in charge of all news coverage and production for daily of 285,000 circulation. Substantially improved local coverage; sharpened mission of six-person national staff.

1979-1983 The New York Times, New York, N.Y.

As night national editor, supervised editing of all national news. Respon-sible for quality of the national report; decided how national stories were displayed inside the paper. Previously, assistant national editor in charge of covering trends in public policy and national life.

1976-1980 JAZZ Magazine, Northport, N.Y.

Founding editor and publisher of award-winning quarterly; chairman and president of closely held corporation. Arranged for and benefited from large Ford Foundation grant.

1972-1979 Newsday, Melville, N.Y.

As news editor, responsible for the content and appearance of the news pages of the Long Island daily; supervised large staff of layout editors and copy editors. Entirely redesigned the news department’s procedures to accommodate to computerized production.

1970-1972 The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, Pa.

As regional editor, devised and supervised the paper’s first system for covering suburban news. Recruited reporters (including two who subse-quently won Pulitzer Prizes); redesigned the newsroom and its communi-cations systems; restructured production schedules; developed successful 10-year plan for regional coverage.

1968-1970 Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago, Ill.

As night city editor, directed coverage of breaking news through two urban riots, the Weathermen's Days of Rage and the Chicago 7 Trial. Assigned and edited article that won the 1970 Pulitzer Prize for deadline reporting.

1966-1968 St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, Mo.

Copy editor, rewriteman, reporter, feature writer.

1962-1966 The Kansas City Times, Kansas City, Mo.

As first suburban editor, set up system for editing daily pages of local news for four suburban zones. Before that, reporter, columnist and jazz critic.

EDUCATION

Williams College, Williamstown, Mass.

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