• by Ray Schultz , June 9, 2025

The Beacon, a nonprofit newsroom based in Kansas City, Missouri, has brought on Chris Lester as interim editor in chief.  

Lester worked at The Kansas City Star for 24 years in a variety of roles, including reporter, columnist, editor and assistant managing editor for business coverage. 

“Chris had planned to step back from full-time newsroom life,” writes Stephanie Campbell, CEO of the Beacon.“I asked him to take on this role because his leadership is exactly what we need right now.”

Campbell says Lester will: 

• “Build the editorial team that will launch Documenters KC and deepen our civic journalism.
• Strengthen our core coverage of local and state government, health, education and economic mobility.
• Deepen partnerships with peer newsrooms and civic institutions across the region.
• Recruit veteran journalists and emerging talent to help us grow.
• Lead collaborative projects, such as the voter guide effort where he played a key leadership role last year.”