Editor Lyle Muller leaving The Gazette for journalism non-profit

Editor Lyle Muller is leaving The Gazette after 25-plus years to become executive director of the non-profit Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism.

Muller, 58, of North Liberty, was named editor in 2009. He has been with The Gazette since 1987. Over those years, he also served as a reporter, Johnson County bureau chief, Iowa City editor, investigations and special projects editor, and senior editor.

The Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism, based in Iowa City, operates the website www.IowaWatch.org and is devoted to investigative and public affairs reporting that is shared through news organizations throughout the state.

Muller's last day with The Gazette is April 20. His salary in the new position will be $80,000 a year.

As a reporter, he covered health and science and higher education for The Gazette for 13 years and was a National Association of Science Writers fellow in 1992, moving into editing positions in 1999. Previously Muller worked for the Iowa City Press-Citizen and The Daily Iowan. Before that, he was a radio and television news reporter for seven years.

Muller is a member of the Iowa Newspaper Foundation board of directors, Iowa Newspaper Association Government Relations Committee and Iowa High School Press Association board of directors and is the expanded media coordinator for Iowa's 6th Judicial District.

A native Iowan, he has a bachelor's degree in communication studies from the University of Iowa. He and his wife, Vicki, have three daughters and two grandchildren.