Katharine Viner has been named editor in chief of The Guardian, becoming the first female editor since the newspaper was founded in 1821.
The Scott Trust, the nonprofit owner of the paper, announced Viner's selection on Friday. Viner will take over for Alan Rusbridger, a well-respected editor who led the paper through some of its greatest successes, most notably its work around the leaks provided by Edward Snowden.
[seealso slug=http://sale-online.click/2015/03/11/guardian-whisper-privacy-allegations-correction/%5D%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EViner, who grew up in Yorkshire, lines up well with the paper's legacy of activism in the coverage of liberal causes. She led the publication's expansion into Australia with coverage of immigration and climate change as well as the addition of lighter features like a regular political cartoon.
Viner most recently served as deputy editor of Guardian News & Media and editor-in-chief of Guardian US, which focuses on news in the Americas. Viner inherited Guardian US from its founding editor, Janine Gibson, who led the team to a Pulitzer for its coverage of Edward Snowden's whistleblowing revelations about privacy in the U.S.
A Guardian staffer since 1997, Viner easily won the staff vote, garnering 53% of a ballot meant to inform the Scott Trust of who the editorial side wanted to lead the paper. The next closest was Emily Bell, the former digital director for The Guardian who now serves as a non-executive director on the Scott Trust, with about 23% of the vote. Gibson earned 21% of the vote. Ian Katz, who closely worked with Rusbridger for years, was also among the top names. He was not on the staff ballot since he now works outside the company, running BBC's Newsnight.
Congratulations poured in for Viner, including from other journalists that had been in consideration for the position.
Sincere congratulations to new @Guardian editor in chief, @KathViner. Best paper in the world deserves a great editor and it got one.— Janine Gibson (@janinegibson) March 20, 2015
Delighted the brilliant Kath Viner to be 12th Editor of the Guardian in 194 yrs.Only instruction: "Carry on as heretofore"— alan rusbridger (@arusbridger) March 20, 2015
Rusbridger has led the editorial side of the publication since 1995 and announced in December that he would step down from the role. He will leave the paper in June. He has said he will chair the Scott Trust, which runs the paper, as well as running Lady Margaret Hall, a college at the University of Oxford.
The paper under Rusbridger also held true to its history of aggressive advocacy. Most recently, the paper launched a major advocacy campaign on the issue of climate change called "Keep it in the ground," which is calling for major organizations to stop investing in gas companies. It is the most recent in a series of bold choices from Rusbridger, who did not shy away from aggressively pursuing important topics that had been overlooked by other media outlets, most notably a campaign on female genital mutilation.
Despite his lofty title, Rusbridger maintained a quirky and self-aware humor. An avid Instagram user, he once used the app to chronicle his run in with police over the "illegal use of a tripod."
He also served as a thorn in the side of intelligence communities around the world. The Guardian was forced by the British government to destroy computers and hard drives that contained files from Snowden, a move that did not stop the paper from continuing to report on the leaks.
The paper's coverage of the leaks from Snowden garnered a Pulitzer prize for public service, the most prestigious merit awarded by the Pulitzer board and widely considered the highest honor in journalism.
The Guardian began its life in Manchester, England, as a response to the Peterloo Massacre in which British officers charged into a crowd of protesters.