Michael Howerton

Michael Howerton, editor in chief of the San Francisco Examiner and vice president of editorial for San Francisco Media Company, where he also oversees the SF Weekly, has been tapped to serve as chief of staff for Board of Supervisors President London Breed, according to a report in the Examiner.

Gregory Andersen, previously the Examiner’s managing editor, has been promoted to editor in chief. Laura Dudnick, the paper’s city editor, will become the new managing editor.

“After three great years leading the Examiner and SF Weekly, it’s tough to leave,” Howerton said. “The work our reporters do at both papers is essential to the functioning of The City, and I have been proud to be part of that. But I leave both papers in great hands with talented newsrooms, and I look forward to following their coverage.”

Howerton is a member of the San Francisco Press Club’s board of directors and Dudnick is a former member of the board.

Howerton’s career in newspapers spans two decades. A San Francisco native, he has worked as editor in chief of the Examiner since April 2014, and previously held the title of managing editor at the paper. He also has worked as an assistant news editor of the Wall Street Journal and managing editor of the Berkeley Daily Planet.

Prior to his time at the Examiner, Andersen, a Bay Area native, was publisher and executive editor at Marinscope Community Newspapers in Marin County.
Howerton starts his new job on March 20. (Photo credit: Jessica Christian, S.F. Examiner)