Moving on, moving up

Beacon Journal Vice President and Editor Debra Adams Simmons will leave the newspaper at the end of the month.

In a meeting with the newsroom staff Wednesday afternoon, publisher Edward R. Moss said the decision to eliminate the position of editor was made after an analysis of the management structure and because of the need to reduce staff.

After the meeting, Moss said the company has eliminated a layer of top management involving four vice presidents in the last year.

Overall, the Beacon Journal has eliminated 85 positions in the last three months but plans no further reductions, Moss said. The Beacon Journal now employs 640, including about 120 in the newsroom.

Managing Editor Mizell Stewart III will continue to oversee day-to-day responsibilities of the newsroom and take on some of Adams Simmons' duties. Stewart may take on the title of editor at a later date, he and Moss said.

Stewart also announced that Bruce Winges, a 24-year veteran of the newspaper, would become deputy managing editor. Winges, 51, will be assisting Stewart in day-to-day operations.

Moss said he and other members of the newspaper's senior management will increase their involvement in the community.[His name was on an add today urging passage of the Akron school levy.]

Click on the headline to read the full story by Betty Lin-Fisher on the Business section front.