Vickie Walton-James

Vickie Walton-James is Chief National Editor for NPR News. She oversees a desk of more than 40 reporters, editors and producers based in Washington, D.C., and in more than a dozen bureaus around the country. National Desk correspondents cover domestic breaking news and beats that include immigration, criminal justice and national security across all NPR platforms. Before assuming her current position in 2014, Walton-James was the network's Deputy National Editor and held other senior management positions.

Prior to joining NPR in 2008, Walton-James was a manager for Tribune Publishing in Washington, where she coordinated the convergence of print, digital and television coverage. She was promoted to that position after serving as the Chicago Tribune's Washington Bureau Chief. In that role, she led coverage of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 and their aftermath. She also directed coverage of Washington institutions and issues, including justice, diplomacy, defense and the presidency.

Walton-James began her journalism career in newspapers, reporting and editing for the Kansas City Star. Her beats included criminal justice, social services, city government and residential real estate. She later moved to the Chicago Tribune and was an editor for its national and foreign desks.