Emilio Garcia-Ruiz has been appointed editor-in-chief of the San Francisco Chronicle, overseeing all news and content across print and digital platforms for the Chronicle.
The announcement was made by Hearst President and CEO Steven R. Swartz, Hearst Newspapers President Jeff Johnson and San Francisco Chronicle Publisher Bill Nagel.
Emilio Garcia-Ruiz, who has been managing editor of digital for The Washington Post since 2013, assumes his new role on September 21.
“We’re excited for Emilio to join Northern California’s largest and most accomplished newsroom,” Nagel said. “His dedication to rigorous journalism will be invaluable to the Chronicle as we build on our growing audience base.”
“Emilio has an impressive track record of innovation and producing great journalism on all platforms,” Johnson said. “As we continue to develop our digital and video strategies, his experience and leadership will greatly benefit the Chronicle and the communities we serve.”
Emilio Garcia-Ruiz spent more than 20 years during two stints at The Washington Post, most recently serving as managing editor of digital, where he supervised emerging news products, the general assignment reporting team, graphics, newsroom product, operations, audience and engagement, experimental storytelling, design, audio, photo and video.
Previously, he was editor for strategic projects leading development of all digital products, including mobile apps, e-book projects and website development. Garcia-Ruiz also served as local editor, sports editor and deputy sports editor during his tenures at The Washington Post.
He is a member of the News Leaders Association Board, the Inter American Press Association Board and the John S. Knight Fellowships Board of Visitors at Stanford University and a former member of the Poynter Advisory Board. Additionally, he is on the Steering Committee for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.
Prior to joining The Washington Post in 2001, Emilio Garcia-Ruiz was sports editor of the St. Paul Pioneer Press and edited the paper’s Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative pieces that exposed academic fraud in the University of Minnesota’s men’s basketball program.
Garcia-Ruiz was also a sports analyst at Telemundo 64, assistant sports editor and copy editor at the Los Angeles Times and assistant sports editor at The Orange County Register.
Garcia-Ruiz fills the role vacated by Audrey Cooper, who departed the paper in June to join WNYC in New York City.
“The San Francisco Chronicle’s 155-year-old legacy is one of hard-hitting journalism, compelling storytelling and critical frontline reporting for the communities that trust and depend on it,” said Garcia-Ruiz. “I am honored to lead the talented newsroom team and excited to further our mission and commitment to quality news.”
The San Francisco Chronicle is the largest newspaper in Northern California and the second largest on the West Coast. Acquired by Hearst in 2000, the paper was founded in 1865 by Charles and Michael de Young and has been awarded six Pulitzer Prizes for journalistic excellence.
Available in print, online, e-edition, mobile app and iPad versions, the San Francisco Chronicle is committed to coverage of subjects that are uniquely important to its readers: local issues and those topics with national impact such as economy, politics, technology and ecology, as well as breaking news, crime, education and national and foreign news.
Launched in 1993, SFGATE provides a 360-degree view of San Francisco. Combined, the San Francisco Chronicle and SFGATE reach over 30 million users each month.
Hearst Newspapers is the operating group responsible for Hearst’s newspapers, local digital marketing services businesses and directories. With more than 3,000 employees across the nation, Hearst Newspapers publishes 24 dailies and 52 weeklies, including the Houston Chronicle, Times Union (Albany, New York) and San Antonio Express-News. It also operates digital marketing services and directories businesses under the LocalEdge brand.