NABJ’s Kathy Chaney Makes History as First Black and Female Executive Editor at The Times of Northwest Indiana

Former NABJ Vice President-Print Kathy Chaney has been named executive editor of The Times of Northwest Indiana, effective Oct. 1. Her appointment marks a historic milestone as she becomes the publication’s first Black and female newsroom leader. The Times has the largest news and sports staff in the region.

A newsroom veteran with more than two decades of experience, Chaney is a passionate advocate for the Black press and newsroom diversity.

Previously, she served as executive editor for YR Media. Before that, she was deputy managing editor for breaking news and staff development at the Chicago Sun-Times, managing editor for EBONY magazine, and managing editor at the Chicago Defender.

Committed to supporting the next generation of Black news leaders, Chaney has served on the NABJ Print-Digital Leadership Academy and the Black Press Grant selection committees, among others. She was Region IV (now Region II) deputy director from 2013 to 2015, a two-term president of NABJ-Chicago, and served on the NABJ Council of Presidents.

She is the recipient of the George Polk Award, the A. Philip Randolph Messenger Award, and the CrimeStoppers Media Award.