Editorial and Opinion Editor Jeanne Mariani-Belding will be leaving The Honolulu Advertiser later this month to pursue new career opportunities offered to her locally and on the Mainland.

Mariani-Belding has led The Advertiser's editorial pages since October 2004. She has held a number of national diversity and journalism offices, including as national president of AAJA, the Asian American Journalists Association.

One of Mariani-Belding's key contributions was establishing the blog, The Hot Seat. Public officials, community leaders, and decision-makers joined her to discuss the biggest issues facing the state through the popular online Q&A with readers each week.

"She truly will be missed as she set the bar high for community conversation in Hawai'i and shows she cares deeply about this state and its future," said Mark Platte, Advertiser Senior Vice President/Editor. "I personally appreciate the energy and effort she put into every initiative and I am proud to have worked with someone of Jeanne's caliber."

Mariani-Belding, born and raised in Hawai'i, came to The Advertiser from the San Jose Mercury News, where she was deputy editor of the editorial and commentary pages. She has also worked previously at the Los Angeles Daily News and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

She is a graduate of Pepperdine University, and was a John S. Knight Journalism Fellow in 2003-2004. She also has served as a juror for judging the Pulitzer Prizes.

Her last day at The Advertiser is Jan. 22.