Ed Kelley named editor of The Washington Times

The Washington Times has chosen former Oklahoman Editor Ed Kelley as its new Editor, effective July 1st, 2011.  Kelley will provide editorial leadership for the news, as well as opinion content for Washington Times Media.  He will also play a key role in building the company’s presence as a multi-media news organization.  

By implementing a coordinated content strategy, including investigative reporting and exclusive opinions in print, digital, mobile, and broadcast, Kelley will  guide The Washington Times to take advantage of its significant market opportunity in today’s national media landscape.

Kelley comes to The Washington Times from The Oklahoman in Oklahoma City, where he was the Editor.   Since joining The Oklahoman in 1975, Kelley has held virtually every key editor position, including four years in the nation’s capital as Washington Correspondent/Bureau Chief.

In 1996, Kelley was awarded the Editor of the Year Award by the National Press Foundation for leadership of The Oklahoman’s coverage of the bombing at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

In recent years, he played a major role in creating a new media strategy for The Oklahoman and helped lead the development of a new design for the newspaper.  In addition, Kelley presents a daily video commentary, entitled “Oklahoma Matters” on The Oklahoman’s website.

Welcoming Kelley to The Washington Times, Dr. Douglas D.M. Joo , Chairman of The Washington Times LLC, said, “The company had conducted a nationwide search to identify an Editor who would fit the unique news mission of The Washington Times. Ed Kelley is an excellent choice to advance The Washington Times, as it builds a multi-media news company with audiences throughout the United States and world.”

Thomas P. McDevitt, President of The Washington Times LLC said, “The Washington Times is very fortunate to have an Editor with Ed Kelley’s stature and experience.  He is clearly one of the finest news editors in America.”

A native of Perry, Oklahoma, Kelley, 58, is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, and a member of Phi Beta Kappa.  In 1998, he served as a Pulitzer Prize juror.  He was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame in 2003.

Kelley is a member of the Advisory Board for the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Oklahoma.  He is also a member of the Advisory Committee of the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation.

Kelley states, "I am excited about working with The WashingtonTimes'  journalists and editors to continue the Times’ long history of trusted news and conservative opinion, expand the Washington metropolitan and national audience for washingtontimes.com, and lead the growth of the Times in other digital, mobile, radio, television and print media."

Kelley’s wife Carole is head of school at one of the highest rated charter schools in the country.  They will be moving to Washington in the near future.   The Kelley’s have two adult sons living in the Washington, DC area, and a daughter who lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The Washington Times LLC is a newspaper and multi-media company headquartered in Washington, D.C.  It publishes The Washington Times, Washington Times National Weekly and washingtontimes.com.   It has gained a reputation for thorough news coverage and hard-hitting investigative reporting and exacting commentary. It is also a partner in the fast growing morning radio program, America's Morning News, heard on over 120 stations across the United States.