Bronstein

After three decades with Hearst and 17 years as its editor in chief in San Francisco, Phil Bronstein is resigning to take on a larger role at the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) in Berkeley, where he is currently chairman of the board.

“I think after 31 years you ought to do something different,” Bronstein told SF Weekly. “It’s been an extraordinary run, and I saw the article the [SFGate] did about it — it just barely captured how tumultuous and interesting the ride has been.”

Bronstein, 61, started with Hearst in 1980 as a reporter for the Examiner, and he moved up through the ranks to editor. His coverage of the fall of Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. He stepped down as editor four years ago and became editor-at-large.

Bronstein said in the Chronicle story about his departure that his new role at the Center for Investigative Reporting will be unpaid but is “critical for the ongoing importance of nonprofit journalism.”

It’s an effort that will require more time and energy than he could give with a full-time job at Hearst, Bronstein said. (Photo credit: Mike Kepka, Chronicle)