Diana Fuentes has been named executive director of the nonprofit organization Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE).
An experienced journalist and news manager, Fuentes will be the first person of color to lead the 6,000-member organization, dedicated to improving the quality of journalism.
She starts the new role April 26.
She leaves the San Antonio Express-News, where she has been Deputy Metro Editor since 2015.
Fuentes has extensive senior management and masthead-level experience running newsrooms throughout Texas, including Editor and Publisher of the Del Rio News-Herald and Editor of the Laredo Morning Times, in addition to various positions within theSan Antonio Express-News.
She has served on numerous journalism organization boards, including the American Society of Newspaper Editors (now the News Leaders Association). She is past president, treasurer and secretary of the Texas APME and the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. She is a lifetime member, and former secretary and financial officer of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
A six-person search committee screened dozens of candidates, but Fuentes emerged as the best person for the job. According to IRE, “she impressed them with her practical experience in every critical element the committee cited as being important for the position. The board and staff also found her to be no-nonsense but affable.”
Fuentes aims to build on initiatives to support investigative journalists at smaller newspapers, broadcast outlets and online news sites. She also hopes to expand the organization’s program that provides investigative training at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Hispanic-serving institutions, and strengthen partnerships with culturally diverse journalism organizations.