New biz editor at the San Diego Union-Tribune

TALKING BIZ NEWS EXCLUSIVE

Catherine Snapp, a former co-metro editor at the San Diego Union-Tribune and also a former assistant business editor, has been named the business editor for the paper’s print edition.

Jim Watters, who has been the business editor for the past nine years, is taking a position leading the team covering the military, environment, defense industry, biotech industry and health care.

The changes are part of a widespread overhaul at the California daily designed to improve its Web operations, said Watters, who called the new job part of a “top-to-bottom reorganization” at the paper. Talking Biz News reported earlier this week that former Orange County Register business editor Diana McCabe had also been hired to oversee content for the paper’s Internet site.

“It’s part of an effort to improve our website, among other things,” said Watters. “Not sure yet of the effective date for the changes. Lots of other people are moving into new jobs at the same time.

“Diana and I will be working with the reporters and getting stories posted online first,” added Watters. “Cathy Snapp will then take that material and produce the print Business section. Some of the stories from my team will also go to the Metro section.”

Snapp is a graduate of the University of Illinois and has been a metro editor since January 2006. Watters has been at the paper since July 2001. Before that, he spent more than two decades at the Miami Herald.