Mark Zieman
Mark Zieman was appointed president and publisher of The Star in March 2008. Before that, he was vice president and editor for 10 years, leading the newsroom to numerous national and regional awards, a major redesign and development of the successful newspaper online site, KansasCity.com. He previously served as managing editor, projects editor and an investigative reporter. Prior to working for The Star, Zieman was a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, covering space, aviation and technology in Texas. Zieman received his journalism degree from the University of Kansas and earned an Executive MBA from Rockhurst University. He is married to Rhonda Chriss Lokeman, a Star columnist who is nationally syndicated through Creators Syndicate. They have four daughters.
To reach him call (816) 234-4878 or send an e-mail to zieman@kcstar.com.
Miriam PepperMiriam Pepper, vice president, editorial page, joined the 10-member editorial board as editor in November 2001. She previously served as the paper’s Readers’ Representative for six years, writing a weekly column. Earlier in her career at The Star she covered the Missouri legislature, local and state politics, City Hall, special projects, and started two business columns on workplace issues and working women. Before joining The Star, Pepper worked for The Associated Press in Jefferson City covering the state legislature and as a sportswriter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. She grew up in St. Louis. Pepper is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, and is married and the mother of two young adults.
To reach her, call 816-234-4421 or send e-mail to mpepper@kcstar.com.
Steve WinnSteve Winn is the deputy editor of the editorial page and writes regularly on national politics, health care, the federal government and international affairs. He received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and a master’s degree in liberal arts from Baker University. Winn held several reporting and editing jobs at The Star before joining the editorial board in 1985. He also teaches at Baker University’s School of Professional and Graduate Studies. He and his daughter live in Overland Park.
To reach him, call 816-234-4477 or send e-mail to winn@kcstar.com.
Laura ScottLaura Scott, assistant editorial page editor, writes about children’s issues, elementary and secondary education, Missouri state government, and natural resources and the environment. She is a graduate of Kansas State University, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s in political science. Scott joined the Editorial Board in 1982 after being Topeka statehouse correspondent and political writer for The Star.
To reach her, call 816-234-4452 or send e-mail to lascott@kcstar.com.
Yael T. AbouhalkahYael T. Abouhalkah first became interested in journalism in junior high school. Since then he has been a news reporter, a sports reporter, an editor and, since 1984, an editorial writer.
He graduated in 1978 from the School of Journalism at the University of Kansas. Abouhalkah worked as a reporter at The Milwaukee Journal, then returned in late 1979 to the Kansas City area to serve as an editor on the Mid-America desk of The Kansas City Times. In 1984, Abouhalkah joined the Editorial Board. His topics include Kansas City government and neighborhoods; Clay, Platte, Johnson and Jackson counties; and national and local energy policies.
To reach him, call 816-234-4887 or send e-mail to abouhalkah@kcstar.com.
Lewis W. DiuguidLewis W. Diuguid is vice president for community resources at The Star. He joined the paper in May 1977 after graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism. He has been a reporter, a photographer and has held several editing jobs. He has written a column for the newspaper since 1987. He serves on the Editorial Board, writes a column and administers the paper’s philanthropic efforts. He is the author of A Teacher’s Cry: Expose the Truth About Education Today and Discovering the Real America: Toward a More Perfect Union.
To reach him, call 816-234-4723 or send e-mail to lduiguid@kcstar.com.
E. Thomas McClanahanE. Thomas McClanahan writes a weekly column and editorials on a variety of topics, including national defense, labor, international trade, Russia, the Asia-Pacific region and transportation. He has been with The Star since 1984 and a member of the Editorial Board since 1987. Prior to that, McClanahan worked for United Press International in Cheyenne, Dallas and Denver, and the Colorado Springs Sun. McClanahan graduated from the University of Colorado with degrees in history and journalism. He is a 1988 Jefferson Fellow and has traveled extensively in Asia. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1966 to 1969.
To reach him, call 816-234-4480 or send e-mail to mcclanahan@kcstar.com.
Mary SanchezMary Sanchez is a weekly syndicated columnist with Tribune Media Services, specializing in Latin American issues, and immigration, race, politics and culture. She also is an editorial columnist and a member of the Editorial Board of The Star. Sanchez also writes a monthly column for The Poynter Institute, a leading journalism think tank, and has been a correspondent for EFE, a wire service based in Madrid, Spain. Sanchez has lived in Mexico and traveled extensively in Central America. She is a native of Kansas City.
To reach her, call 816-234-4752 or send e-mail to msanchez@kcstar.com.
Barbara ShellyBarbara Shelly, an editorial writer and op-ed columnist, writes about Kansas government and politics; crime and courts; higher education; and scientific research and bioscience development. Shelly joined The Star in 1984 and has been a metropolitan columnist, assistant metro desk editor, and a metro desk reporter covering City Hall, police and crime, and social services. She came to The Star by way of the Syracuse (N.Y.) Post-Standard, where she reported on city government and special projects, and the Reading (Pa.) Times, where she covered education and general assignment. Shelly graduated from Penn State University in 1977 with a degree in journalism. She lives in the Waldo neighborhood of Kansas City with her husband, son and three cats.
To reach her, call 816-234-4594 or send e-mail to bshelly@kcstar.com.
