NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Executive Editor Maria De Varenne, the first female executive editor at The Tennessean, is retiring from journalism, she told newsroom colleagues on Friday.
De Varenne has led the paper’s news coverage for more than a decade. She will step down in April, according to the newspaper.
“I fell in love with our craft in college. The rush of getting a scoop, crafting the perfect lead, filing right on deadline. There is nothing like being in the middle of a newsroom during a big breaking story,” De Varenne said. “From investigative pieces uncovering wrong-doing to special projects spotlighting issues for improvement, we were and are committed to aggressive and fair reporting that contributes to the leadership and civil discourse in the communities we cover.”
Michael Anastasi, The Tennessean’s vice president and editor, called it “an incredible blessing” to have had a partner so passionate about local news and serving the community.
“Maria’s insistence that good enough is not good enough has helped establish a culture of consistent excellence in our newsroom and she will leave a legacy that will be felt for years to come,” Anastasi said.
De Varenne came to Tennessee from California, where she was vice president of news at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside.