Arizona Republic editor Ward Bushee, whose newspaper career at the Watsonville Register-Pajaronian, has been named executive vice president and editor of the Chronicle, replacing Phil Bronstein. Bushee, 58, has been at the Gannett-owned Phoenix daily since 2002, and previously was editor of Gannett’s Cincinnati Enquirer.

Chron publisher Frank Vega, also a former Gannett executive, says Bushee pioneered innovative use of the Internet at the Republic. “That type of multiplatform reporting is what we have to continue to develop,” Vega said.

Bushee is quoted by the Chron as saying: “The Chronicle has been my favorite newspaper for as long as I can remember. I have long admired the quality of journalism practiced by its staff and the sense of San Francisco and the Bay Area captured on its pages.”

Bushee, 58, began his career at the Watsonville Register-Pajaronian. His father was the paper’s editor and shepherded it to a 1956 Pulitzer for public service. Bushee also has worked at the Gilroy Dispatch, the Salinas Californian and the Marin Independent Journal. Here’s a link to the Chron’s announcement. (Photo credit: Tom Tingle, Arizona Republic)