The Kansas City Star is making a series of changes in its Editorial Department, according to an internal memo sent (3/19) to newsroom staffers by Editor and Vice President Mike Fannin (and jointly signed with Managing Editor Steve Shirk) and obtained exclusively by Bottom Line Communications.
LAURIE MANSFIELD is the Star’s new assistant managing editor/features effective immediately. She helped launch the newspaper’s “Ink” publication, which will merge with Features. The University of Missouri j-school graduate began her Star career in 2007 as an assistant editor and also worked in features at the Des Moines Register.
DARRYL LEVINGS will move to features as a senior editor/writer. Levings has served as city editor and national editor and helped the paper capture a Pulitzer Prize for the Hyatt Regency disaster.
JOCELYN JACOBSON will assume Mansfield’s former duties as editor of Ink after serving as an assistant editor in features. She will report to Mansfield and also continue to oversee fashion.
KEITH ROBISON will leave his position in features to become deputy online editor and report to Amanda Wilkins.
LEE HILL KAVANAUGH will become an enterprise reporter in features. The Star veteran has won numerous journalism awards during her career and will report to Levings while focusing on Page One and section cover stories.
Fannin also said the McClatchy-owned newspaper is looking for a reporter for a new position in the Metro section. According to Fannin it will be an “assistant city editor/reporter role.”