Jeff Mitchell has been named editor of The Alameda Journal, a 22,000-circulation weekly affiliated with the Contra Costa Times newspapers. Mitchell, 44, replaces Lucinda Ryan, who was promoted to the position of executive editor of the Daily News Group in Palo Alto, replacing Diana Diamond. The Daily News Group and Contra Costa Times are owned by Knight Ridder and are being sold to MediaNews. Before arriving at the Alameda Journal, Mitchell was a reporter for the Pasadena Star-News, the Daily News-Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Times. He also served as a reporter and editor for the North County Times in San Diego County and most recently worked for the Fairfield Daily Republic and Marin Independent Journal.