Shinkle named AP business editor

Kevin Shinkle, the AP’s deputy business editor for the past two years, has been promoted to business editor overseeing the news agency’s coverage of business and finance worldwide.

He replaces Hal Ritter, who’s now working as the weekend editor at the Nerve Center, handling all of AP’s coverage in advance of and during the weekends.

An AP story states, “Shinkle joined The Associated Press as an assistant business editor at the height of the financial crisis in 2008 and directed AP’s coverage of the global markets.

“‘We are thrilled to have Kevin build on the great success he’s had over the past several years in guiding AP’s coverage of the business world through the most tumultuous of times,’ said Lou Ferrara, the AP managing editor overseeing business, sports and entertainment coverage. ‘Over the months ahead, we will be working to better define what AP business coverage should be for the future to meet the needs of AP customers and consumers.’

“Before joining the AP in November 2008, Shinkle, 48, was business editor of The Star-Ledger in Newark, N.J. He joined the newspaper in 2000 as deputy business editor. Before that, he was a reporter for Bloomberg News for seven years and The Tampa Tribune for three years. He also worked for The Chapel Hill Newspaper in North Carolina.

“A native of Tucson, Ariz., Shinkle graduated with honors from Hillsdale College in Michigan with majors in political theory and history.

“During Shinkle’s tenure at the AP, the business staff has been honored by the Society of American Business Editors and Writers with awards for breaking news coverage and explanatory and feature writing. The Star-Ledger business section was honored by SABEW with its top award for general excellence during his tenure and won a National Headliners Award.”

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