‘A perfect time for someone like me to be in this role’: Maria Reeve is breaking barriers at the Houston Chronicle

This episode is the second in a four-part series for the Digiday Podcast called “The Modern Newsroom Leader,” featuring editors-in-chief as they navigate new industry challenges including staffers dealing with burnout, unsteady financial businesses and prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion in hiring practices.

Here are a few highlights from the conversation, which have been edited for length and clarity.

Right place, right time, right person

Houston is the fourth-largest metro in the country and one of the most diverse places in the nation. And so, for me to have this opportunity to lead this newsroom at times feels significant and overwhelming, but at times feels like right now is a perfect time for someone like me to be in this role in Houston.

A position of power and impact

What does this position allow me to do now? I am still wrapping my arms around what that means. Does that mean — and we have done this — that we make sure every job opening has finalists who are people of color? Does it mean that when we advertise for interns that we look locally, that we look at our [Historically Black Colleges and Universities] that are in the Houston area? Does that mean that I can decide we need to create a culture desk, which we are doing, that focuses on communities and places where we may not have been before? 

The culture desk

I envision a desk that crosses departments, that includes features and metro and biz, where they bring their best ideas about how we can cover communities that we historically may not have or may have covered in a superficial way. I want to be sure that when people come to our website or our newspaper that they see themselves reflected in our coverage.

The pressure of being a “first”

Being a “first” brings with it its own sorts of pressures and expectations. I didn’t really come to this thinking I’m going to be the first person of color to lead the Houston Chronicle. But there it is. That is part of who I am now. And so I feel a great sense of responsibility around that. I certainly don’t want to disappoint anyone or make it harder for the next person. And also, I joke with my friends, being a first means failure is not an option at all.