About the authors

That's Jim on the left. Don't ask.

Jim Witt, executive editor

I have been executive editor and senior vice president of the Star-Telegram for the past 10 years and am responsible for all newsgathering operations at the paper. I joined the Star-Telegram in 1986 and served as publisher of the Northeast Tarrant edition and the Arlington edition after running the paper's afternoon edition for several years. I am a native of Fort Worth; my wife, Nancy, and I are residents of Roanoke.
E-mail Jim

Ellen Alfano, vice president / innovationt

In my years at the Star-Telegram,  I have worked as a copy editor, page 1A editor and sports editor. I left the paper in 1989 for a job in New York City as an assistant managing editor for the National Sports Daily. When it folded 1 1/2 years later, I followed my husband, Pete, to Florida and the ATP - the men's international professional tennis tour - in Ponte Vedra Beach, a resort town just outside Jacksonville. We were there for six years, and I learned a great deal about technology and multimedia, and had the added benefit of being able to travel to Europe, which included visits to London, Paris, Monte Carlo and Waterford, Ireland. The best part is, it was all on company business. I returned to the Star-Telegram in 1998 as managing editor over several departments - among them, Sports. Recently, I became vice president of innovation, which is a fancy way of saying that a major part of my job now is to help chart a course for our newspaper in the years ahead. Pete and I each have a son, and now that they are in their mid-20s, we think they are finally on their own. Now, we're bossed around by our Australian Shepherd, Sydney. E-mail Ellen

Jean Marie Brown, managing editor/eastern Tarrant

I moved to Fort Worth in 2000 after spending nearly a decade working at The Observer in Charlotte, N.C. I love local news, and I don't think anyone does it better or more consistently than the Star-Telegram. I spend my days in the Arlington and Northeast newsrooms urging the editors and reporters there to produce local sections that carry stories that are important to readers in those areas. Considering that I live in far southwest Fort Worth, it's quite a commute. E-mail Jean Marie

Paul Harral, editor of the editorial page

I joined the Star-Telegram in 1986, returning to the Texas of my birth after 20 years in foreign places such as Dallas, Denver, Chicago and Jacksonville, Fla. This is my second assignment as editorial page editor, with others such as assistant managing editor, managing editor of special projects, metro editor, business columnist and ombudsman scattered in along the way. One ordinary fact: I'm a Baptist. One unusual fact: I studied classical ballet and performed in more than 30 Nutcrackers. (By the way, the photo was taken in Bigfoot, Texas. The village is named for William Alexander Anderson "Bigfoot" Wallace, Texas Ranger, soldier and Texas folk hero.) E-mail Paul

David House, reader advocate

Hello. I have been the Star-Telegram's reader advocate since 2001. I help readers with questions and concerns about our work. I’m a native East Texan (Texarkana), where I began my career 40 years ago. I came to the Star-Telegram after reporting and editing for papers in Dallas, Denver, St. Petersburg and Pittsburgh. I’ve learned that readers are the same everywhere. They want news that's fair, accurate and balanced. E-mail David

Larry Lutz, managing editor/development

I'm managing editor for development (that's recruiting and training) and the copy desk at the Star-Telegram. Since 1985, I've had a variety of great jobs in all three newsrooms at the paper. Recently, I've helped shape the paper's print strategy. I'm the proud father of two great daughters and the husband of a great wife. And you should know that I'm a Nebraska native and a big baseball fan. E-mail Larry

Lois Norder, managing editor/investigations

As managing editor for investigations, I've been responsible for the Star-Telegram's in-depth coverage and watchdog content. Recently, I've also become responsible for our features sections. For many years after joining the paper in 1991, I led the newsroom in Northeast Tarrant County. For fun, I run, read and ride herd on my children and grandchildren. E-mail Lois

Rex Seline, managing editor/news

I made stops at several metropolitan papers before landing at the Star-Telegram in late 1994 as the business editor. I was named managing editor/news in 2001, which makes me responsible for Fort Worth, Texas, business and national/foreign coverage. I am a native of Omaha and a graduate of the University of Nebraska. My wife, Becky, and I have two daughters, and we share our home with a frisky labradoodle. Or, more precisely, he shares his home with us. E-mail Rex

Kathy Vetter, managing editor/digital media

I have been at the Star-Telegram since 1993, after spending several years at community newspapers in Texas. In 2005, I moved over to the online operation. In my time here, I have specialized in disasters: I helped coordinate coverage of the Oklahoma City bombing, the 9-11 attacks on New York and the shuttle disaster in east Texas. I love dachshunds, riding bicycles and NASCAR. As you can see, I have four dachshunds. I also have four bicycles. But no race cars. Just a little Jeep. E-mail Kathy