Kevin Merida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kevin Merida
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Merida in 2021
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| Born | January 17, 1957 |
| Education | Boston University (BS) University of California, Berkeley |
| Occupation | Executive editor, Los Angeles Times |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 3, including Darrell Britt-Gibson |
Kevin Merida (born January 17, 1957) is an American journalist and author. He used to be the top editor at the Los Angeles Times. There, he was in charge of all the news, from local stories to sports and features.
Before that, Kevin Merida was a senior leader and editor-in-chief at ESPN. He helped start a website called The Undefeated in 2016. This website focused on race, sports, and culture. He made The Undefeated a bigger brand, creating journalism, documentaries, TV shows, music, and even children's books.
While at ESPN, Merida also looked after investigative news and TV shows like "E:60." He led ESPN's main editorial team.
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Early Life and Education
Kevin Merida was born in Wichita, Kansas. He grew up near Washington, D.C.. His father, Jesse Merida, was a geologist who studied rocks and fossils. His mother, Doris, worked with communications for the National Science Foundation.
Merida went to Crossland High School. He was among the first students in the U.S. to ride a bus to school as part of a Supreme Court ruling from 1971. He later graduated from Boston University. After college, he attended a special journalism program at the University of California, Berkeley.
Journalism Career Highlights
Kevin Merida often writes about important people. He has covered figures like Strom Thurmond and George W. Bush. His goal is to help people understand these subjects better.
Merida started his journalism journey at the Milwaukee Journal in 1979. He worked as a reporter and an editor there until 1983.
In 1983, the Dallas Morning News hired him. He first wrote about special projects and local politics. Later, he became a national reporter in Washington, D.C. He even covered the presidency of George H.W. Bush. He finished his time at the paper as an assistant managing editor.
Working at The Washington Post
Merida joined The Washington Post in 1993. He worked there for 22 years. During his time, he covered Congress and national politics. He also wrote long articles and magazine columns.
In 2006, he helped lead a special series called "Being a Black Man." This series won a Peabody Award. The award recognized how it helped people understand old issues in new ways. It also showed how new and old journalism could work together.
In 2008, Merida became an Assistant Managing Editor at The Washington Post. He led the national news team for four years during the Obama presidency. He also co-wrote a book about Clarence Thomas. With Deborah Willis, he co-authored a popular photo book about Barack Obama's historic campaign.
On February 4, 2013, he became a managing editor. In this role, he helped the newspaper win four Pulitzer Prizes. He also played a big part in making the Post's website one of the best online news sources in the world.
Leading The Los Angeles Times
After a six-month search, The Los Angeles Times announced on May 3, 2021, that Kevin Merida would be its new executive editor. This meant he was the top editor for the newspaper. In January 2024, it was announced that Merida would leave his role at the Los Angeles Times.
Awards and Board Memberships
Kevin Merida is part of the boards for the Pulitzer Prizes. He also serves on the board of trustees for Boston University. He is involved with other important groups like the Kaiser Family Foundation.
In 2020, he joined an advisory group at Simmons University.
Merida was part of a team from the Dallas Morning News that was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 1990. This was for a special report on "hidden wars." In 2025, he was a judge for the American Mosaic Journalism Prize.
Awards and Honors
- 1990, Pulitzer Prize finalist
- 2000, Journalist of the Year, National Association of Black Journalists
- 2005, Distinguished Alumni Award from Boston University
- 2006, Vernon Jarrett Award for Journalistic Excellence
- 2018, Missouri Honors Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism
- 2020, NABJ Chuck Stone Lifetime Achievement Award
Personal Life
Kevin Merida lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Donna Britt. She is also a journalist and author. In 2012, they were named one of the "Black Voices Power Couples." He has a son named Skye with Donna Britt. He is also a stepfather to her sons, Justin Britt-Gibson and actor Darrell Britt-Gibson.
