LEXINGTON, Ky. — Linda Blackford, a veteran journalist with nearly 30 years of experience at the Lexington Herald-Leader, has been named editor-in-chief of the Kentucky Lantern, taking over leadership of the nonprofit news organization from founding editor Jamie Lucke.

Blackford, who started in her new role Monday, replaces Lucke, whose final day is Friday, April 24. Lucke spent more than 40 years as a journalist across four states before retiring from the Herald-Leader to establish the Lantern in 2022, which has since become the state's leading government-focused nonprofit news outlet.

"I'm proud of what the Lantern has built in three years and thrilled that Linda will be its second editor," Lucke said in a statement, noting her gratitude toward the Lantern's readers and donors. She added that Kentucky's stories "need a good reporter to do some digging" and expressed renewed enthusiasm for nonprofit journalism's role in finding and telling untold narratives.

Blackford brings extensive credentials to the position. At the Lexington Herald-Leader, she has held reporting and editing positions since 1997, most recently working as an opinion writer and columnist. Her career has included extensive education coverage and investigative reporting. She has won four McClatchy Presidents' Awards and numerous Kentucky Press Association honors, and her 2004 civil rights investigation received international attention, appearing on the front page of the New York Times.

"I'm incredibly excited to come to the Kentucky Lantern, both to continue the great work of Jamie and the staff, and to further the great cause of nonprofit journalism," Blackford said.

The Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, the nation's largest state-focused nonprofit news organization with outlets in all 50 state capitals plus Washington, D.C. The Lantern provides free, nonpartisan reporting on state government and policy, funded by grants and individual donors rather than advertising or subscriptions.

Blackford holds a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University and a bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia. She resides in Lexington with her husband and three sons.