H'wood Reporter taps Burns editor

Vet served as interim editor following Busch's departure

By JONATHAN BING

Burns

Howard Burns has been named editor of the Hollywood Reporter after serving as interim editor for nearly five months.

Reporter editor in chief and publisher Robert J. Dowling said the paper interviewed "numerous qualified candidates" before passing the reins to Burns, whose title was previously deputy editor.

Dowling said Burns has been "in on almost all of the hires" at the Reporter, including the recent appointment of Gregg Kilday as film editor. He also praised Burns' oversight of the paper's coverage of last week's terrorist attacks.

"He came up through TV, but you can't sit in (the deputy editor) spot and not learn the film business," said Dowling. "I don't think his contacts will be as deep in film as in TV, but he certainly knows the business."

Burns who joined the Reporter in 1988, and became interim editor following the April 30 departure of Anita Busch.

The Reporter soon thereafter retained executive search firm Korn/Ferry Intl., fueling rumors that it would not name a successor from within its ranks.

Burns' previous posts at the Reporter include executive editor of television, managing editor and news editor.