Last Updated: May 20, 1999
Printer-friendly version
An American editor
Krenek keeps an even keel in N.Y.
Debby Krenek t he hands-on editor of the Daily News
is making her mark in a formerly male-dominated realm
By John Carroll
Debby Krenek became editor-in-chief of the Daily News in October
1997, the first woman to hold the position in a traditionally — and steadfastly
— male newsroom. Krenek worked her way up in New York, starting as
a copy editor and becoming managing editor and executive editor before
being named to her current position. Prior to working at the Daily News,
Krenek, a Texan, worked at the Dallas Times-Herald and the Corpus Christi
Caller-Times.
She succeeded the legendary Pete Hamill, the former columnist who
lasted less than a year under owner Mortimer Zuckerman. Zuckerman, who
also owns U.S. News & World Report and numerous real estate holdings,
is known for his second-guessing and hands-on management style, a style
that Krenek handles differently than Hamill did — and many say better.
Q. Your former editor, Jim Willse, was quoted recently as saying
you had “an instantaneous understanding of what a lively tabloid should
be.” What’s the essence of tabloid journalism?
A. It is quick and feisty. A tabloid should tug at the emotions of its
readers — it should make them both laugh and cry, feel warm and fuzzy and
feel like someone is in their corner. Every story should give the reader
something he or she didn’t know before. And the layout should be both exciting
and inviting.
Q. What is the Daily News doing to stay relevant?
A. We’re concentrating on local news, which is one of our big franchises,
and we’re trying to cover the boroughs in a way that most newspapers and
television stations can’t. We are also concentrating on coverage of ethnic
communities which make up a large part of New York. We continue to expand
our health coverage, which is a number one priority for many people, and
we are targeting the younger reader both through sports and entertainment
by shifting our focus on who we cover.
Q. Who are your competitors, and how do you differentiate the Daily
News from them?
A. We have to look at all media as competitors. It’s a much more difficult
market these days as many newspapers are fighting all outlets to hang on
and grow their readership. Again, we feel our strengths are local news
coverage and sports. We also are making a name for ourselves in local investigations
that expose things and educate our readers. Some examples of projects we
did last year were a comprehensive series on how asthma is killing too
many people in New York and what you can do to protect yourself.
Another was a comprehensive series showing how New York has one of the
worst restaurant inspection systems, and we released all the ratings for
the restaurants they never tell you about.
We also revealed how New York divorce courts are among the slowest in
the nation and how it is ruining many a child’s and couple’s lives.
Q. We understand that you’ve got a redesign in the works. What can
readers expect?
A. They can expect a cleaner, easier to read Daily News with new typefaces
and bolder layouts. But they can also expect that it will be subtle and
have the feel of their familiar Daily News.
Q. Historically, the Daily News has been known as a macho newsroom.
How could a woman make her way to the top editing job there?
A. I have always loved working at the Daily News and I think the key
to my success was literally doing any job thrown my way, from editing the
newspaper to moving the newsroom across town and helping implement a new
pagination system. It’s true that the newsroom was somewhat macho when
I came to work here. When I first arrived, my news desk boss threw me a
page to lay out and said, “Lay out this page for me, honey, and make it
look beautiful.” At first I was taken aback, but I’m pretty easy going
and have always felt if you work hard and keep a sense of humor, things
will usually be OK and you’ll get where you want to go eventually.
Q. You’ve got a reputation for knowing plenty about getting the paper
out. Do you have a broader vision?
A. Yes, my vision for the paper is to be the best in local coverage.
I want the paper to be a must-read for all New Yorkers. I also want
to be the best in local investigations. We have a great start on this and
are going to keep pushing. I want to continue to expand what I believe
is the best sports coverage in New York City, and I am committed to telling
New Yorkers about other New Yorkers.
There has been so much change in the culture of the city and the ethnic
makeup, and I’m committed to writing immigration in a very personal way.
Q. How would you characterize your leadership style?
A. Hands-on, encouraging, demanding, usually decisive. I rarely spend
time in my office. I’d much rather be out on the floor.
Q. What is your proudest accomplishment at the Daily News?
A. Two things. One was when our columnist Jim Dwyer found the MTA was
sitting on a more than $200 million surplus in 1997. The paper showed ways
that they could use the money to cut the subway fare and sponsored a reader
write-in campaign besieging the governor and the MTA to cut the fare. They
did and it has helped countless New Yorkers where it counts, in their wallets.
That’s what this paper has always been about.
Second, over this past year the paper has won more awards than it has
ever, including a Pulitzer and the Meyer Berger award for local reporting.
Q. What do you wish most you could get fixed?
A. Our problems with our color presses. I would really like for us to
begin using color again this year.
Q. Has the appointment of Harold Evans as Zuckerman’s editorial director
affected your life in the newsroom?
A. It really hasn’t. Harry doesn’t care to get involved in the day-to-day
paper. He’s much more into the big picture at the paper, like the redesign
and where we’ll be in the upcoming months.
Q. What does the appointment of Ed Kosner as Sunday editor mean?
What is the reporting relationship? How will you work together?
A. The appointment of Ed Kosner as Sunday editor means we are putting
a major effort into growing the circulation of the Sunday paper with new
features and more investigations. Ed and I have a good working relationship.
He reports to Harry Evans, but we collaborate on many things.
Carroll, co-chair of The American Editor Committee, is editor of
The Sun, Baltimore.
