Ted Dixon, publisher of the Hawaii Tribune-Herald since 2003, announced today that he is retiring at the end of the month.
Ted Dixon, publisher of the Hawaii Tribune-Herald since 2003, announced today that he is retiring at the end of the month.
“After a 40-plus-year career in the newspaper industry, I think it is time to start on my ‘bucket list’,” Dixon joked with his staff last week.
Mike Ferguson, president and chief executive officer of Stephens Media, owners of the Tribune-Herald, said, “I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Ted for many years. He is among the very best newspaper executives I have known in the 40 years I have been in this business.”
Tribune-Herald Editor David Bock will assume the publisher’s position, effective Dec. 1, Ferguson said.
“While you hate to lose someone of Ted’s talent, we are very fortunate to have in David a very worthy successor,” Ferguson said. “I know David will continue Ted’s fine stewardship of the Tribune-Herald and continue to provide an excellent newspaper for the residents of Hilo and surrounding areas.”
“I am pleased to become the publisher of the Tribune-Herald,” Bock said. “I expect to continue the tradition of excellence Ted brought to the newspaper.”
Ferguson also announced that Dixon has agreed to remain with the company for an undisclosed period of time as a consultant.
“Ted will help David transition into his new position and at the same time will help us evaluate all of our publications on the island of Hawaii,” Ferguson said. “This has been a difficult time for newspapers, and keeping Ted on board, if even for a short time, will help us to position the Hawaii Tribune-Herald, West Hawaii Today and our weekly publications to take advantage of new technology and reach a larger audience then we have in print alone.”
Stephens Media LLC is a nationwide newspaper publisher with operations from North Carolina to Hawaii. It owns West Hawaii Today, North Hawaii News, Big Island Weekly and an interest in Hawaii.com, in addition to the Hawaii Tribune-Herald.