Dallas Morning News promotes Allen to deputy publisher

Leona Allen, who has held several high-profile jobs, including the post of managing editor during her more than 25-year career at Dallas Morning News. has now been promoted to the post of deputy publisher.

Allen is also chair of the board of directors at the newspaper.

Stepping into her new post, Allen will be working with the newsroom and A. H. Belo Corp.’s digital marketing division, Belo + Company, ensuring the company’s “culture and business practices reflect a commitment to diversity that is deep and permanent,” Grant Moise, publisher and president of Dallas Morning News said.

She will also be aiming to effectively reach diverse audiences though the paper’s journalism and her mission will extend beyond the newsroom.

“Leona is going to work with every department at the newspaper because we need a universal approach,” Moise added. “The only way we can be excellent is to make this effort permanent. It can’t be a project or an initiative. It has to be ongoing and with accountability.”

In addition, Allen has also worked at The Akron Beacon Journal where she was part of the team than won a Pulitzer Prize for a series of stories on race relations. She has also worked as a reporter for Dallas Times Herald.

Allen is a graduate of University of North Texas.