Veteran newsroom executive Jim Kirk named New York Daily News’ interim editor in chief

Veteran newsroom executive Jim Kirk was appointed interim editor-in-chief of the New York Daily News on Thursday, and will oversee all editorial operations until a permanent leader is named.

The appointment is effective immediately, according to executives at Los Angeles Times owner Tronc, which acquired the Daily News last year.

Kirk most recently served as interim executive editor at the Los Angeles Times and will continue to work closely with Times staff in his new position.

He joined Tronc in August, after serving as publisher and editor-in-chief of the Chicago Sun-Times since 2012.

Kirk’s previous experience includes time as a reporter, columnist and business editor at the Chicago Tribune, White House editor at Bloomberg and editorial director at Crain’s Chicago Business.

“My commute is cut in half,” said Kirk, who had been making regular trips between Chicago and Los Angeles.

“I love New York. It’s an incredible city for all the reasons everybody says it is. It is a great opportunity and a great newspaper.”

Tronc President Timothy Knight, who made the announcement in the Daily News’ downtown newsroom, praised Kirk’s leadership skills and said a search for a permanent top editor would continue.

“He’s got deep roots in journalism, and Jim knows our company well,” Knight said.

Knight also announced the appointment of Grant Whitmore as executive vice president and general manager of East Coast media for the company.

Whitmore will be responsible for the business operations of the Daily News and oversee Tronc’s East Coast markets — Baltimore; Hartford, Conn.; Allentown, Pa.; and Newport News, Va.

Whitmore served as executive vice president, digital, at the Daily News since 2014.

UPDATES:

2:20 p.m. This story was updated with additional details about Kirk’s role.

This story was originally published at 1:20 p.m.