10/14/05

Kevin Walsh appointed western regional vice president for The Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Kevin Walsh, a veteran bureau chief for The Associated Press who helped oversee coverage of the 2000 Florida election recount, has been appointed vice president of the AP's West region.

The appointment, which takes effect Nov. 1, was announced Oct. 12 by John O. Lumpkin, vice president/business operations for U.S. Newspaper Markets. Walsh, bureau chief for Florida since 1997, will be based in Portland, Ore.

Walsh began his AP career as a reporter in Kansas City before moving to Baltimore in 1990 as news editor for Maryland and Delaware. In 1994, he was named chief of bureau for Arizona.

A native of Dallas, Walsh grew up in Arizona and is a graduate of Northern Arizona University.

Walsh was among four recipients of a special President's Award from the Associated Press Managing Editors for the election night decision not to call Florida and the 2000 presidential race for George W. Bush. He is a past-president of the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors and former chair of the University of Florida Journalism Advisory Council.

He will oversee AP bureau chiefs in the region and will be responsible for AP marketing and relationships with its members there. He succeeds Sue Cross, who was recently named vice president/newspaper online for U.S. Newspaper markets.

contact: Jack Stokes, AP Corporate Communications, 212.621.1720