David Mazzarella is named
Stars and Stripes' editorial director
By Patrick J. Dickson,
Washington bureau editor
David Mazzarella |
WASHINGTON — Stars and Stripes ombudsman David Mazzarella has been named editorial
director and will oversee the newspaper’s editorial operations worldwide.
Mazzarella has served as Ombudsman of Stars and Stripes since April 2000.
Publisher Thomas Kelsch announced the realignment to staff Wednesday, saying Executive
Editor Bill Walker would be tasked with handling communications with commands and other
duties pertaining to wartime coverage.
"At this time, as we approach war — and cover war — it seems appropriate
that we use our resources, including management resources, as effectively as we can,"
Kelsch said.
"By this restructuring, we’re combining Bill’s knowledge and experience
covering deployments and wars with Dave Mazzarella’s journalism experience, and I
expect that will greatly improve our coverage."
Walker has not decided on his future with Stars and Stripes.
In his role as ombudsman, Mazzarella is responsible for advocating reader concerns as
well as reporting directly to the publisher, the American Forces Information Service and
Congress on issues involving the protection of Stars and Stripes as an independent, First
Amendment newspaper.
Mazzarella will continue performing those duties for the foreseeable future.
Mazzarella joined Stripes after a 38-year career in the news business that culminated
in 1994 when he was named editor of USA Today, the most widely read newspaper in the
United States.
"I certainly had no plans to return to the editorial realm," Mazzarella said,
"but I do so in the belief that Stars and Stripes is a great product —
challenged as it is, as all media is, with covering a war under difficult
circumstances."
During his long career with The Associated Press, Mazzarella covered such events as the
1967 Arab-Israeli war, the end of the Salazar dictatorship in Portugal, the Biafran civil
war in Nigeria and the colonels’ coup in Greece.
The managing editor of Stripes’ Central offices in Washington, Doug Clawson,
praised the Mazzarella appointment.
"Dave Mazzarella’s credentials are beyond reproach. We are lucky to have him
on our team," Clawson said.
Back to October stories
Page Two news roundup
Stories from September, 2001
Stories from August, 2001
Stories from July, 2001
Stories from June, 2001
Stories from May, 2001
Stories from April, 2001
Stories from March, 2001
Stories from February,2001
Stories from January, 2001
Stories from December, 2000
Stories from November, 2000
Stories from October, 2000
Stories from August and September, 2000
Stories from June and July, 2000
Home |
