Becca Tucker promoted to publisher of Dirt magazine

CHESTER — For five years, Dirt magazine readers have followed Editor Becca Tucker through each issue.
And along the way, they’ve learned quite a bit about her. She’s a celebrated writer, a kitchen gardener and an ultimate Frisbee aficionado. She’s a mother to free-range chickens, six goats and her two kids.
Now, Tucker will assume the title of publisher of the magazine.
Tucker is now both editor and publisher of Dirt, an award-winning bi-monthly magazine covering the Black Dirt region’s green scene. She takes the publishing reins from Jeanne Straus, president of Straus News, which publishes this newspaper and 17 other hyper local publications across New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Before assuming the helm of Dirt, Tucker reported for Straus News and won a national award from the Education Writers Association.
Prior to joining Straus News, she served as managing editor of New York Family magazine and a reporter for The New York Sun and The New York Press.
Her freelance reporting has appeared in The Guardian, Time Out New York, alternet.org and other places.
Dirt has been named best niche publication and won best environmental story by the Local Media Association. It also placed first in coverage of agriculture from the New York Press Association.
The magazine was a finalist for a National Magazine Innovation Award last year.
“Becca’s superb editorial vision fuels Dirt’s unique voice, strong reporting and nationally recognized writing," Straus said in announcing the move. "Her leadership is the reason the magazine has burst onto the local green scene and achieved huge success in only five years. Given the magazine’s rapid growth, it’s natural to hand her oversight of the business side.”