Hunke becomes USA Today publisher; Hillkirk named as editor

Hunke, Hillkirk named to top posts at USA Today

McLEAN, Va. — USA Today, the nation’s largest newspaper, filled two top executive positions Tuesday by naming David Hunke as publisher and John Hillkirk as editor.

Hunke had been publisher of Gannett Co.’s Detroit Free Press and chief executive of the partnership that oversees that newspaper and The Detroit News. Hillkirk had been USA Today’s executive editor.

Gannett, USA Today’s owner, announced the changes at the company’s shareholder meeting.

The positions opened in recent months after USA Today Publisher Craig Moon announced his retirement and the newspaper’s editor, Ken Paulson, left for a nonprofit group that promotes free speech. Hillkirk had been acting editor after Paulson left.