Paul Greenberg, the Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial page editor of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, is stepping aside from that role.
In a Friday address to the newsroom, WEHCO Media President and Chief Operating Officer Nat Lea said editorial writer David Barham will succeed Greenberg beginning Aug. 1.
Lea, who called Greenberg a "tremendous asset to our readers, our state and indeed our democracy," said he will continue to work and write editorials and columns.
"We are really happy and fortunate that he wants to continue to work for a time," Lea said.
Greenberg won a Pulitzer, considered the top prize in journalism, in 1969 for editorials he wrote the previous year at the Pine Bluff Commercial. He's been the editorial page editor in Little Rock for 23 years.
Greenberg, 78, was also a Pulitzer finalist in 1978 and 1986 and has won numerous other awards for his commentaries.
Lea called Barham a "wonderfully talented writer" and noted that he shared a National Headliner Award with Greenberg and has earned other distinctions for editorial writing.
Greenberg told the assembled staff that he was grateful for the opportunity to work for the paper and looks "forward to David Barham leading us on to new and daily heights."
Gov. Asa Hutchinson released a statement Friday afternoon on Greenberg's transition.
“Paul Greenberg is an Arkansas institution. His editorial pages at the Pine Bluff Commercial and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette have always been must-reads — provocative, insightful and never shy. As Paul would put it, he told it ‘with the bark off,’" Hutchinson said in the statement.
“I’ve been the subject of Paul’s editorial pages many times. While I don’t always agree with what he writes, I have always appreciated his personal civility and courtesy."
Attorney General Leslie Rutledge took to Twitter to share her well wishes to Greenberg in his new role.
"Hard to imagine Paul Greenberg not serving as the editor of the ADG's editorial page," Rutledge tweeted. "Sad Day for AR journalism. All the best, Paul!"
See Saturday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full coverage.
