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 is known for his important roles at major news organizations. He used to be the top editor, called the executive editor, at the Los Angeles Times. In this job, he was in charge of all the news being gathered. This included local news, national news, sports, and special features. He also oversaw the Spanish-language news.
Before working at the Los Angeles Times, Merida was a senior vice president and editor-in-chief at ESPN. He helped create and launch a special website called The Undefeated in 2016. This platform focused on how race, sports, and culture connect. Later, it was renamed "Andscape" in 2022. Merida helped expand this brand across The Walt Disney Company. It grew to include journalism, documentaries, TV shows, music, and even children's books. While at ESPN, he also oversaw investigative news and TV shows like “E:60.”
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Early Life and Education
Kevin Merida was born in Wichita, Kansas. He grew up in the Washington, D.C., area. He is the older of two children. His father, Jesse Merida, was a geologist and paleontologist. He worked for the United States Geological Survey and the Smithsonian Institution. His mother, Doris, worked for the National Science Foundation. She was a communications specialist.
Merida went to Crossland High School. He was part of the first group of students in the U.S. who were bused to school. This happened because of a Supreme Court ruling in 1971. After high school, he graduated from Boston University. He then attended a special "Summer Program for Minority Journalists" at the University of California, Berkeley.
Journalism Career
Kevin Merida often focuses his journalism on biographies. These are stories about people's lives. He has written about important public figures like Strom Thurmond and George W. Bush.
Merida started his journalism career at the Milwaukee Journal in 1979. He worked there as a reporter and an editor until 1983.
In 1983, Merida joined the Dallas Morning News. He started as a reporter for special projects and local politics. Later, he became a national correspondent based in Washington. He covered the presidency of George H.W. Bush. He finished his time at the paper as an assistant managing editor. In this role, he was in charge of foreign and national news.
Working at The Washington Post
Merida was hired by The Washington Post in 1993. He worked there for 22 years. During his time, he held many different roles. He was a reporter covering Congress and national politics. He also wrote long articles and magazine columns. He was a senior editor in several departments.
In 2006, he helped coordinate a year-long series for the Post called “Being a Black Man.” This series was featured in the newspaper. It won a Peabody Award. The award recognized its ability to help people understand old issues in new ways. It also showed how old and new forms of 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. Merida also co-wrote a book about Clarence Thomas called Supreme Discomfort. He also teamed up with Deborah Willis to co-author a bestselling photo book about the 2008 presidential campaign.
On February 4, 2013, he was named managing editor. This meant he was responsible for news and features coverage. He also helped the newspaper win four Pulitzer Prizes during this time. He played a big part in improving the Post’s online presence. He helped make the paper's website one of the most popular 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 their new executive editor. This is the top editorial position at the newspaper. In January 2024, it was announced that Merida would step down from his role at the Los Angeles Times.
Awards and Board Memberships
Kevin Merida serves on several important boards. He is on the board for the Pulitzer Prizes. He is also a trustee for Boston University. Additionally, he is on the boards of the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Philip Merrill College of Journalism.
In 2020, Merida was named to the Dean’s Advisory Council at Simmons University. In 1990, he was part of a team at the Dallas Morning News that was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize. This was for a special report on "hidden wars."
Honors and Recognitions
- 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. She used to be a columnist for The Washington Post. In 2012, The Huffington Post called them one of the "Black Voices Power Couples" of the year. Merida has one son with his wife. He also has two stepsons from her previous marriage. One of his stepsons is the actor Darrell Britt-Gibson.
