Deborah Heard, deputy assistant managing editor for the Style section of The Washington Post, was named yesterday to head the section as assistant managing editor.
Heard, 47, who has worked for The Post for 20 years, succeeds Eugene Robinson, who will become an associate editor and write an op-ed column.
DEBORAH HEARD
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In announcing Heard's promotion, Leonard Downie Jr., The Post's executive editor, credited her with playing "a large role in Style's prize-winning success and its special place in our readers' daily lives." He called her "a strong voice among the newspaper's senior editors for innovation, inclusion and excellence."
Heard expressed delight at the appointment. "I am so thrilled," she said, describing herself as passionate about the subjects Style covers. "I have been smiling so much that my cheeks hurt. I'm honored. This is something I've always wanted to do."
Heard grew up in Alabama and received a bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama.
She worked as an editor at the Miami Herald before coming to The Post in November 1984 as an editor in Metro.
As deputy AME in Style since 1995, she "has earned the admiration and respect of everyone in Style" and "has helped build bridges between Style" and the rest of the newsroom, Downie said.
Launched in 1968 as a replacement for The Post's women's section, Style is regarded as one of the newspaper's trademarks. It became known for the freshness of its writing and as a model for cultural and lifestyle coverage.
Downie said he and the newspaper's new managing editor, Philip Bennett, expect Heard "to take the talented staff that she and Gene have built to new places, further delighting readers and challenging the rest of the newsroom."
Heard said one priority would be "to honor the wonderful tradition of putting out a fabulous section" and another would be to help "make the entire paper as compelling as possible."
Praising her staff, she said she wanted more Style writing and Style subjects, such as "what people are doing, dreaming and worrying about," throughout the newspaper and on the front page.
Downie's announcement also voiced gratitude for Robinson's accomplishments "during 24 years as Metro reporter, city editor, foreign correspondent, deputy AME for foreign news and AME for Style."
Downie said Robinson would remain in the newsroom to help "efforts to make changes in the newspaper to maximize readership."
Heard is to assume her post Jan. 1.
