The Dallas Morning News has appointed Colleen McCain Nelson as its next executive editor, following a four-month search. Her tenure will begin on Aug. 11.
A veteran with nearly 30 years of experience, Nelson currently serves as executive editor of The Sacramento Bee, and is McClatchy Media’s California regional editor, leading five Golden State newsrooms. She is replacing Katrice Hardy, who departed The News in February to lead The Marshall Project.
Nelson is returning to lead a newsroom where she spent 12 of her formative reporting years covering local, state and national politics — winning a Pulitzer Prize in the process.
She takes the reins at a time when the newspaper is reimagining its newsroom to be more competitive in the digital era, and to better serve a rapidly evolving North Texas region that’s becoming an epicenter of Texas’ growth.
“We conducted a nationwide search to find the best executive editor in the United States, and I am confident we found that leader in Colleen,” Grant Moise, publisher of The Dallas Morning News, said in a statement.
“Colleen is an outstanding journalist, and has been at the forefront of journalism’s digital transformation. We can’t wait to welcome her back to The Dallas Morning News.”
In 2010, Nelson and her News colleagues Tod Robberson and William McKenzie were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing, recognition for a series of editorials that condemned the stark economic and social disparities separating Dallas’ thriving northern half and struggling southern half.
Nelson’s arrival coincides with DallasNews Corporation’s drive to improve its financial health, with The News’ parent company having recently completed a $43.5 million deal to sell its printing and distribution operation in Plano.
In an interview, Nelson said she is embracing “the chance to learn from such great journalists here. I have always admired the company’s commitment to the community… and I never stopped rooting for and reading The Dallas Morning News.
“It’s a destination newsroom and an opportunity I could not say no to. It’s an honor to return to the newsroom that shaped my career and a city that really does feel like home,” she said.
“I want to do a lot of listening… and make sure the newsroom is prepared to meet the moment in a fast-paced news environment that is constantly evolving. This is an ambitious newsroom that is doing high-impact work, so my goal is to build on the momentum at The Dallas Morning News and ensure that we are serving our readers.”
Prior to her post at The Sacramento Bee, Nelson was McClatchy’s national opinion editor, and once served as the editorial page editor of The Kansas City Star, where she produced three Pulitzer finalists.
Previously, she was The Wall Street Journal’s White House correspondent, covering both the campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, as well as the administration of Barack Obama.
The 51-year-old was raised in Salina, Kan., and began her career as a reporter for The Wichita Eagle, then moved to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram to cover local and state government. The Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Kansas is also a member of the Kansas Newspaper Hall of Fame and the university’s Women’s Hall of Fame.