From a story in the Miami Herald by Howard Cohen headlined “Alex Mena named Miami Herald’s executive editor”:
Newsroom leader Alex Mena, who rose from answering phones as a teenager at the Miami Herald to become managing editor of the storied newsroom, on Monday was named executive editor of the Miami Herald and el Nuevo Herald.
Mena, 50, becomes the Miami Herald’s first immigrant executive editor. A Nicaraguan child who came across the Rio Grande on his father’s shoulders, Mena worked his way up to lead sports and metro news departments, el Nuevo Herald, and helped direct the Herald’s Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the Surfside condo collapse.
In his new role, Mena will also oversee the executive editor of the Bradenton Herald as Florida Regional Editor for McClatchy, the parent company of the three Florida publications. Mena has been overseeing all three newsrooms in an interim role since February.
“Alex is the right leader to carry on the highest level of journalistic excellence that the Miami Herald has long been known for,” said Monica Richardson, vice president of local news for McClatchy. “He brings a passion and steadfast commitment to serving not only the diverse local communities of Miami but also readers throughout South Florida.”
Mena, who lives in Hialeah with his wife, Elany, cited the community’s support in his success. He is the first graduate of Miami Dade College and Florida International University to take the reins at the Herald.
“It was a long road. I’ve been a clerk to now executive editor,” Mena said. “It’s exciting and sometimes I’m out of words to say how I feel.”
Speak Your Mind