Brittany Patterson Published

After 28 Years of 'Sustained Outrage' Ken Ward Jr. Leaves Charleston Gazette-Mail

Ward_2018_hi-res-download_3.jpg

Award-winning investigative, environmental reporter Ken Ward Jr. announced Monday was his last day at the Charleston Gazette-Mail.

“Some personal news: Today was my last day at @wvgazettemail. After more than 28 years, I’ve decided it’s time for new adventures and different challenges. More on that soon /1,” Ward said via Twitter.

The news comes just days after Greg Moore, the Gazette-Mail’s now-former executive editor, announced his job had been unexpectedly eliminated Thursday. Media trade publication Poynter reached out to newly-hired regional executive editor Lee Wolverton regarding the decision to eliminate Moore’s position. He had no comment.

In 2017, the Gazette-Mail, whose motto is “sustained outrage” won a Pulitzer Prize for its investigation into West Virginia’s opioid crisis. In January 2018, the paper declared bankruptcy. It was purchased by HD Media, a media company based in Huntington. Moore was the paper’s second editor to lose his job in the last two years. Longtime editor Rob Byers was laid off in 2018.

On Monday, reaction to Ward’s announcement poured in on social media from both current and former Gazette-Mail staffers as well as members of the public.

Some expressed anger toward Doug Reynolds, managing partner of HD Media.

When reached by phone, Reynolds praised Ward and his work.

“Ken’s an incredibly accomplished journalist,” he said. “We’re disappointed that he’s going onto other things, and we wish him the best of luck.”

Reynolds said “the timing is the timing at this point” when asked if the departure coincided with the decision to eliminate Moore’s position. He added while the executive management team hasn’t discussed it yet, it is his intention to fill Ward’s role.

Ward is a West Virginia native and graduate of West Virginia University. He has won numerous reporting awards and in 2017 was named a member of the newly launched ProPublica Local Reporting Network. In 2018, Ward was named a MacArthur Fellow, often referred to as the “genius” grant.