Knight Ridder Names New Publisher at The Wichita Eagle, Kan.

By Jean Hays, The Wichita Eagle, Kan. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Sep. 28--Lou Heldman, who has spent nearly 30 years with Knight Ridder as a reporter, editor and publisher, will become the president and publisher of The Wichita Eagle on Jan. 1.

He replaces Peter Pitz, who is retiring.

Heldman, 52, currently is publisher of the Centre Daily Times in State College, Pa., which, like The Eagle, is owned by Knight Ridder.

Steve Rossi, the newspaper division president for Knight Ridder, the nation's second largest newspaper group, said Heldman was chosen for the job because of "his strong leadership skills."

"He is a good team …