Chicago Public Media announced today that Kimbriell Kelly will become the organization’s editor-in-chief, effective September 2. Kelly, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter and newsroom leader, will oversee the integrated Chicago Public Media editorial team, which includes WBEZ, Vocalo and the Chicago Sun-Times.
Kelly began her journalism career in the Chicago area reporting for the Daily Herald, hosting a public affairs program on WFLD, and producing a weekly radio show on WBEZ. She went on to national prominence as an investigative reporter at The Washington Post, where she contributed to Pulitzer-winning work, later serving as the Washington bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times and teaching at Howard and Princeton Universities.
“Kimbriell has the deep Chicago roots, journalistic excellence, and forward-looking vision to help shape the future of our integrated newsroom,” said Melissa Bell, CEO of Chicago Public Media. “She understands both the tradition of great reporting and the need to innovate for our audiences.”
Kelly’s appointment marks a significant milestone for Chicago Public Media, which unified the WBEZ, Vocalo and Sun-Times editorial teams in April to create one of the most comprehensive local news operations in the country.
“I’m honored to return to the city that shaped me and to lead a newsroom with such a vital role in informing and engaging our communities,” said Kelly. “This is an extraordinary opportunity to build on Chicago Public Media’s strengths and to help reimagine public media for the future.”
Kelly succeeds Jennifer Kho, formerly the executive editor of the Chicago Sun-Times, who served as interim editor-in-chief during the integration of the two newsrooms and will be stepping back from her role on September 12. Kho’s compassionate, steady leadership has guided the organization through a highly complex integration. Her contributions over the past six months of transformation have been invaluable. And Kho won’t be going far: she will be starting a partnership with Chicago Public Media on a project about the future of public media in the new year after some much deserved time off.