Auto journalist Amend dies at 53

James Amend, who covered the automobile industry for Wards Auto, died last week at the age of 53.

Tom Murphy of Wards Auto reports, “After graduation, he worked as a staff writer and editor for Detroit Auto Scene and then moved to New York City to cover the mutual fund industry for Money Management Executive. Amend became a business writer for the Associated Press in 2006, focused on Wall Street stocks for the transportation industry.

“He arrived at Wards in 2007 as the Detroit automakers were still referred to as the Big Three, but that would change as General Motors and Chrysler would descend into bankruptcy in 2009. Covering GM meant documenting in painful detail all the plant closings, job cuts and brand consolidation in one of the largest corporate bankruptcies in U.S. history.

“‘James was the consummate professional,’ General Motors says in a statement. ‘Always a fair and ethical journalist, a true pleasure to work with. He will be missed. Our thoughts are with Kandace and their children.'”

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