Veteran border journalist Julián Aguilar is joining El Paso Matters as its first editor.

Aguilar, an El Paso native and graduate of Burges High School, has covered border issues for the Texas Tribune since 2010. He is a graduate of the University of Texas and has a masters degree from the University of North Texas.

“El Paso is Texas’ sixth-largest city, home to one of the busiest trade hubs in the country, a major university and a military installation. But it still tends to be overlooked more than the state’s larger communities,” Aguilar said. “One way to change that is to inform and empower the public with truthful and compassionate journalism. I’m honored and excited to be a part of a team dedicated to telling the stories of this diverse and beautiful community.”

As editor, Aguilar will oversee day-to-day news operations and El Paso Matters’ growing group of reporters.

“Julián is an amazingly talented journalist and a pioneer in nonprofit media. His love of the El Paso-Juarez region and deep familiarity with the issues we face will be a tremendous asset for El Paso Matters and for the community we serve,” El Paso Matters CEO Robert Moore said.

Aguilar was one of the first reporters hired by the Texas Tribune in 2010. The Tribune and El Paso Matters are both nonprofit news organizations that get funding through memberships, philanthropy, business sponsorships and events.

He also has reported for the Laredo Morning Times and Rio Grande Guardian.

Moore has served as primary editor for El Paso Matters since its start in February 2020. He will work closely with Aguilar in developing news strategies for the organization while also focusing on revenue development.

El Paso Matters, which began publishing in February 2020, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization dedicated to in-depth and investigative reporting about the El Paso region.