By 1953, he had fallen out with the paper's editorial director and resigned.

Howes eventually served as the editorial director of the paper.

During this period he had contributing editor, editorial director, editor-in-chief roles and also a stake in a publication.

As editorial director, he led the expansion of the online network guiding it to its market leadership position.

He has served as editorial director for literary, scholarly, and general trade book publishers, seeing over 500 books through the editorial and production process.