Breaking news: leading visual journalism at the Mercury News
Mercury News at a glance
- Advanced from staff artist to editorial art director
- Led team of 13 artists and 5 interns
- Expanded department capabilities and technical infrastructure
- Developed new formats for visual storytelling
- Created nationally syndicated medical illustration series
After building his expertise as a staff artist at the Chicago Tribune and Orange County Register, Kevin Boyd joined the Mercury News, where he contributed to the paper's Pulitzer Prize-winning team before becoming editorial art director in 1995. Over the next five years, he would lead a team of 13 artists and 5 interns in creating award-winning graphics and illustrations while modernizing the paper's visual approach.
Innovating visual storytelling
Boyd championed new ways to tell complex stories through graphics. When traditional approaches wouldn't suffice, he pushed for innovation. After an initial setback with a graphic novel-style treatment of the Hiroshima bombing anniversary, he successfully introduced the format months later with a history of Israel. This opened the door for a series of more than 20 "Illustrated History" graphics that became a hallmark of the paper's visual journalism.
He and his team produced a wide range of visual content:
- Scientific and medical illustrations for national syndication
- Breaking news graphics for events like the Loma Prieta earthquake
- Full-page explanatory graphics for complex topics
- Creative maps and data visualizations
- Weekly medical illustrations reaching 250 newspapers
Managing under pressure
In the deadline-driven newspaper environment, Boyd balanced creativity with efficiency. He:
- Modernized the department's technology
- Improved quality control processes
- Increased productivity while reducing errors
- Managed daily graphics and design deadlines
- Developed talent through an intern program
Throughout his tenure, Boyd continued to create graphics and illustrations (see the gallery for examples), earning personal recognition including a Silver Award from the Society of Newspaper Design and three Awards of Excellence. His team members also garnered numerous awards while producing work that ranged from daily news coverage to in-depth explanatory journalism, maintaining the high standards that had previously contributed to the paper's Pulitzer Prize.
Impact and legacy
Boyd's experience at the Mercury News shaped his approach to team leadership and visual communication. Managing creative professionals on tight deadlines while maintaining high standards would prove valuable throughout his career. The skills he developed in breaking down complex information into clear visual presentations would serve him well in future roles explaining technical concepts at Stanford Medicine and Signifyd.
