Delco Times vet Joe Hart named as its next editor
Veteran award-winning journalist Joe Hart has been selected as the next editor of the Delaware County Daily and Sunday Times and Delco. com, Senior Publisher Edward S. Condra announced. He succeeds longtime editor Phil Heron, who retired on April 17.
“This really was an easy decision, Joe Hart is the only choice to lead the Daily Times editorial team,” Condra said. “Joe started here as an intern right out of college and has literally done and excelled at every job in the newsroom. Joe has been a driving force since day one and his knowledge and enthusiasm for his job and the community are amazing. I look forward to working with Joe in his new role.”
“I can’t think of anyone better suited to take over the reins than Joe Hart,” said Heron. “He’s a Delco native with rocksolid journalistic skills and a lifetime of experience. They picked the right person for the job.”
Hart, 58, literally grew up at the Daily Times. He started as a summer college intern in 1983 and was hired as a full-time reporter that December. During his years as a reporter he covered the city of Chester, the Chester Upland School District and Delaware County government while also juggling all manner of breaking news and features. Along the way he developed a specialty in mental health issues and politics and is a self-described political junkie. Among his most memorable assignments were walking from Washington, D.C., to Marcus Hook with a group of Vietnam veterans dubbed “Delco Company” in 1988 and also traveling to Rome in 2000 to cover the canonization of St. Katharine Drexel.
Hart moved to the copy
desk in 1993, learning the art of writing headlines under Heron’s careful tutelage, and went on the city desk five years later, working closely with reporters to develop stories. He was named associate editor of the paper in 2004. The recipient of many regional and state awards for his stories, headlines and editorials, he is proudest of being only the second winner of a Delaware County Press Club Award of Excellence for leading a series examining the plight of the mentally ill.
Born in South Philadelphia, Hart was raised in Springfield and graduated from Cardinal O’Hara High School. He attended West Chester University and currently resides in Lansdowne. “I am thrilled to have this opportunity,” Hart said. “Following Phil is a formidable task but I learned so much from him and other great journalists like Linda DeMeglio, Frank Zini and Stu Rose, who hired me. “These are very challenging times for our community and my industry. But I couldn’t have better colleagues and I promise we will continue to give our readers the very best that we have.”