Publisher W.P. Lang today announced the appointment of Karen Moses, who has served as managing editor of the Albuquerque Journal since 2001, as editor of the newspaper beginning Feb. 1.
Moses succeeds Kent Walz, who is retiring from the position after 22 years. Walz, 66, will continue at the Journal in a senior editor role.
Lang also announced that Editorial Page Editor Dan Herrera will move to the managing editor position now held by Moses and that D’Val Westphal will become editorial page editor.
Moses joined the Journal staff in 1981 after working as a reporter in the northern suburbs of Chicago, and as a reporter and a regional editor at the Gallup Independent. At the Journal, her roles have included city editor and assistant managing editor.
“Karen is a talented journalist with deep roots in New Mexico,” Lang said. “She has done so much good work over the years and we are pleased to have her move into this new leadership role as we continue our commitment to the printed newspaper at the same time we expand and improve our digital products.”
Moses, 61, a University of New Mexico journalism graduate, serves on the board of the UNM Alumni Association and is incoming president of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government. She also is past president of the New Mexico Press Association and a member of the New Mexico International Women’s Forum.
Herrera, 60, is an Albuquerque native and a graduate of West Mesa High School and the University of New Mexico with a journalism degree. His newspaper career has included positions at The New Mexican newspaper in Santa Fe, the Kansas City Times and the Modesto Bee, where he was Metro editor before joining the Journal staff in 1995. During his time at the Journal, Dan has been Arts editor and an assistant managing editor. He became editorial page editor in 2009.
Westphal, 52, has been assistant editorial page editor since 2007. She joined the Journal in 1989 as a copy editor after working at the Las Cruces Sun-News and a bilingual newspaper in South Tucson, Ariz. She has an MA in journalism from the University of Arizona and a Ph.d in American Studies from the University of New Mexico. She served as the Journal’s copy desk chief before moving to the editorial page.
Moses, Herrera and Westphal are all graduates of Leadership New Mexico.
Also playing key roles in the Journal’s leadership team are Assistant Managing Editor Joe Kirby, who oversees the paper’s photography and design, and Assistant Managing Editor Donn Friedman, who oversees the technology needs of the newsroom
“This is an exceptional newsroom leadership team,” Lang said. “They have all done great work for our readers and they will continue to do so.”
He commended Walz, a Silver City native and UNM Law School graduate, for raising the Journal’s profile and influence in the community. Under Walz’ leadership, the Journal has excelled in its in-depth investigative reports, watchdog journalism, community reporting and insightful editorials, he said.
Lang said Walz will work in key areas including the editorial board, community outreach and investigative projects.
“We respect Kent’s decision, but we are pleased he will continue to make important contributions to the Journal,” Lang said.
