San Jose Business Editor Returns Home

Peter Hillan, executive business editor of the San Jose Mercury News and former UW–Madison student and Wisconsin State Journal editor, will serve as this semester’s business writer in residence at UW–Madison Sept. 29-Oct. 3.

Hillan oversees a staff of 40 reporters and editors at the Mercury News, which is widely known for its coverage of the high-tech industry in Silicon Valley. The Mercury Center, the on-line service of the newspaper, was voted the best newspaper on the Web at the Interactive Newspaper Awards in 1996. Today it averages 1.3 million visits and 5.6 million page views per month.

Before joining the Mercury News in 1992, Hillan worked at the Dallas Times Herald for four years. There he served as national wire editor, national/foreign editor and then business editor.

Hillan, who grew up in Waukesha, attended UW–Madison from 1975-79 and also worked part-time for the Wisconsin State Journal as a sports reporter. From 1979-84 he was full-time universal desk editor at the State Journal.

In addition to heading the Mercury News’ business coverage, Hillan is a board member of the Society of American Business Editors and Writers.

Hillan’s residency is part of the ongoing Business Writer in Residence program, sponsored by the School of Business, School of Journalism and Mass Communication and Office of News and Public Affairs, with support from the UW Foundation. During the week Hillan will speak to classes in journalism and business, consult individually with students and give a talk in the “What Matters to Me and Why” series in Chadbourne Hall.