David Ledford has served as vice president/news & executive editor of The News Journal in Wilmington, De., since March, 2004. He is also editor of The Daily Times in Salisbury, Md., and 8 weeklies along the beach communities of Delaware and Maryland and Virginia's Eastern Shore. Under David's leadership, The News Journal has won many national regional journalism awards, including the sole finalist citation from the National Academy of Sciences Communication Award for the Keck Futures Initiative for a series of stories titled 'Climate Change Puts Coast in Crosshairs'; a public service award for coverage of America's worst pedophile pediatrician from the Society of Professional Journalists; a Gerald Loeb Award for coverage of the community impact Bank of America's purchase of MBNA had on Delaware; a first-place citation from American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons for coverage of skeletal dysplasia research on dwarfism worldwide, work done by A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children. David served as president of the Associated Press Managing Editors, and during his tenure the group created its National Reporting Project in which reporters and editors nationwide work with the AP on stories that resonate across the country. He moderates a series of statewide forums called 'Imagine Delaware' that brings together state and national leaders to discuss major issues affecting the state — including Delaware's deadly heroin crisis, aging in Delaware, climate change threatening our coast, innovation in job creation, improving performance in education and the enormous challenges of health care. The News Journal's web site, delawareonline.com, is a Gannett Company leader in digital delivery of news, video and information.