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Pruden retires at The Times

By Jennifer Harper
January 15, 2008

John F. Solomon

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Wesley Pruden, who joined The Times as a reporter in the newspaper's infancy and became editor in chief 16 years ago, retired yesterday. John F. Solomon, an award-winning investigative journalist and editor, yesterday was named to succeed him with the title of executive editor.

"Our friend and colleague Wesley Pruden is leaving us," said Thomas P. McDevitt, president of The Washington Times, "though we expect his column, 'Pruden on Politics,' to continue to appear in the paper. And while our newsroom is facile, tough and original, it will never be the same without Wes, who built the editorial foundations of this paper with the insight, wisdom and can-do spirit of a veteran newspaperman.

"John Solomon's appointment is a great step forward for us. He is a working journalist, innovative manager and skilled leader who can navigate a complicated media landscape while maintaining traditional news values and credibility."

In a note to the staff, Mr. Pruden said, "All good things come to an end, and so I take my leave. They said we would last six weeks, and now, a quarter of a century later, the newspaper is stronger, brighter, bolder than ever, and the newspaper is embarked on great change."

Mr. Solomon, 41, assumes his official duties Jan. 28. He led The Post's national investigative-reporting efforts, exposing congressional efforts to hide unsavory earmarks, along with FBI misuse of anti-terrorism tools and forensic science.

He previously worked for the Associated Press over a 20-year span as reporter, news editor, special-assignment editor, assistant bureau chief and most recently as director of multimedia investigative reporting.

"John Solomon, coming from The Washington Post, our archrival, is an exciting and unexpected part of this change," Mr. Pruden said. "I look forward to what he builds on the remarkable legacy he inherits, a legacy built in part by Fran Coombs, the managing editor. Without Fran's aggressive and creative execution of our vision, his careful assembling of our editing and reporting staff, we would never have built our reputation as the fearless alternative to The Post and the mainstream media. The Times is rowdy, as most newspapers once were, independent and politically incorrect by design. I've been assured that won't change."

Mr. Solomon's previous work for the Associated Press included coverage of the Monica Lewinsky scandal that led to the impeachment of President Clinton, and investigations revealing what America's clandestine agencies knew about the threat of a terrorist attack on U.S. soil before September 11, 2001. At one point, the FBI seized Mr. Solomon's home telephone records and personal mail in an effort to unmask his sources. The FBI later apologized.

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