Digital First Media names David J. Butler editor-in-chief

David Butler

Digital First Media has named David J. Butler the company's editor-in-chief.

Butler, editor of the San Jose Mercury News and its sister papers in the (San Francisco) Bay Area News Group, will oversee news and content operations at the company's 75 daily newspapers, as well as all weekly and digital newsgathering operations.

"Dave Butler is a focused editorial leader who will continue to challenge Digital First Media newsrooms to innovate and to continue to transform," said John Paton, chief executive officer of Digital First Media.

Most recently Butler has overseen Digital First Media's editorial operations throughout California as the West editor. He previously held editorial posts for both MediaNews Group and Journal Register Company – the companies initially managed by Digital First Media. Butler succeeds Jim Brady, who is leaving the company on May 1.

"I hope to bring a special appreciation and knowledge to the job having been a long-time editor at both companies. I plan to build on what Jim Brady started," said Butler. "Our commitment at Digital First Media is unchanged – aggressively pursuing a new and exciting digital future while continuing to produce superb, exclusive, local enterprise reporting that makes a difference in the lives of our readers, including those who cherish print."

"Dave has been a steady hand in helping me manage a variety of major Digital First Media initiatives over the past few years, and that, combined with his deep knowledge of our newsrooms, makes him the perfect person to step into this role," said Jim Brady, Digital First Media's editor-in-chief. "I wish Dave all the best as he takes on this important role of leading Digital First Media journalism into the future."

Prior to the creation of Digital First Media, Butler was an editor of the Bay Area News Group as well as vice president for news for MediaNews Group, coordinating the news operations of its 57 newspapers and websites.

Butler, 63, has also served as editor of the New Haven Register – previously owned and operated by Journal Register Company. He joined MediaNews Group in 1997 as editor and executive vice president for news for the Los Angeles Daily News and the LA News Group.

He was editor and publisher of The Detroit News before being named MediaNews Group's vice president for news in Denver, a job he retained after being named editor of the Mercury News in 2008.

Later, Butler became editor of all Bay Area News Group daily newspapers, a position he will retain in his role as Digital First Media's editor-in-chief.