Richmond Times-Dispatch names newsroom veteran as managing editor

Brice Anderson and Reed Williams

The Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch has promoted Brice Anderson, a 34-year newsroom veteran, to the position of managing editor, effective Aug. 1.

Anderson, 57, will run the newsroom's daily operations as the paper's second-ranked editor. He succeeds Paige Mudd, who became the newspaper's editor on July 1.

"Brice's careful editing abilities and impeccable news judgment make him the ideal candidate for this job," Mudd said. "He has a full view of the newsroom and the entire Richmond Times-Dispatch operation, which will help him as he transitions into this key role in our organization. Above all, Brice is always looking for ways to improve our news coverage and presentation by working with our experienced editing and reporting staff."

Reed Williams, a deputy metro editor, replaces Anderson in supervising night news operations. Anderson held that position since 2008.

Anderson started in Richmond as a reporter in 1981 and worked his way up through the reporting and editing ranks. He began his career with the Richmond News Leader, covering local government, education, courts and crime in Hanover, Goochland and Powhatan counties for the afternoon paper. He joined that newspaper's copy desk in 1985 and became an assistant city editor in 1988.

When The Times-Dispatch and The News Leader merged in 1992, Anderson became assistant news editor for design. He was named presentation desk director in 1996 and held that position until being named night editor in 2008.

Anderson grew up in Portsmouth and graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1980.

He told newsroom employees last Tuesday afternoon that they are like family to him. "I will say with a full heart that I care about each and every person in this room. We are brothers and sisters who have devoted our lives to this magnificent calling known as journalism," he said.

Anderson and his wife, Cindy, live in Hanover and have one adult son.

Williams, 40, started at The Times-Dispatch in 2008 covering local government in Hanover, New Kent and Charles City counties. He later covered the Richmond police and courts beat until becoming deputy news editor in 2014.

He worked as a reporter from 2000 until 2005 at The Daily Progress in Charlottesville, covering the business and police beats. He covered the crime beat for The Roanoke Times from 2005 until early 2008.

Williams grew up in Henrico County and graduated from Douglas Southall Freeman High School in 1993. He has a degree in mass communications from James Madison University.