Ron Kovach becomes managing editor of Astronomy magazine

I’m delighted to announce that effective immediately, seasoned journalist Ron Kovach is Astronomy’s new managing editor. Kovach has been senior editor of The Writer magazine for the past 11 years. His many duties there have included planning issues, evaluating queries, working with writers, editing copy, and “scouting” and speaking at writing conferences. He has done in-depth interview articles with many leading authors, including David McCullough, Gay Talese, Anne Lamott, Julia Glass, and Jimmy Carter.

Kovach came to The Writer in 2001; before that he was in newspapers for 24 years in a variety of roles, including reporter, copy editor, assistant metro editor, and features editor. His newspaper work included a dozen years at the Milwaukee Journal and later Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

At various times he has been an active freelance writer, with articles in The Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, and other publications, and he has written extensively about jazz and books.

He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Kent State University and a master’s degree in history from Cleveland State University.

He lives with his wife, Christine, in the Bay View section of Milwaukee, and they have two grown children. A longtime professional musician, he plays Hammond B-3 organ and electric piano with a variety of blues, R&B, and jazz musicians. He is also a voracious reader, sometime chef, and devoted cat-lover.