A quick three cheers for Katharine Viner the newly announced editor of the Guardian, and the only female editor of a daily newspaper in the UK. I'm not cheering the last bit, obviously, we still need more women in senior positions in the media industry and the government and any other old boys' networks you care to mention. Anyhow. Viner has been with the Guardian for 18 years and went from being editor of G2 to become launch editor of the Australian edition and then onto editor-in-chief of the Guardian US. Making her perfect for the job. Of her new position, she says:
'I intend to lead a media organisation that is bold, challenging and engaging. It will be a home for the most ambitious journalism, ideas and events. Setting the agenda and reaching out to readers all around the world.'
I think we can assume that she's not going to start lending horses to David Cameron...
This is awesome! Congratulations to her!
ReplyDeleteI echo Pam, great news. She did a fabulous job on the Guardian Australia which is only available digitally and provided a wonderful job of diluting the impact of the Murdoch view of the world and challenging the parochialism of some of local newspaper coverage. I also loved her manifesto.
ReplyDeleteHi Alyson,
ReplyDeleteI love seeing profiles like this of women in leading roles. Not just from a view point of woman vs. man, but because I suppose I am a woman, I have (had) a career - was just laid off, and, I do believe that the story behind her journey to this position is probably very interesting and unique. I was visiting Gwen Moss blog and Leslie had written a wonderful post on continuing to feel relevant with age, and overcoming the sometimes present feeling of invisibility. Your post is a positive reminder of how good things can happen for a woman. xx Nancy
Twitter went mad here in Australia congratulating the wisdom of this appointment . One I suport on SO many levels.
ReplyDeleteAlyson congratulations on commenting on your blog on this special appointment .
Gilly
Beautiful hair!
ReplyDeleteOn this side of the Atlantic, the New York Times fired their first female editor Jill Abramson for among other things the Publisher said he wasn't pleased with her media appearances as she had just appeared in several interviews daring to say that the Obama Administration is the most hostile to media scrutiny as any she had covered citing the 7 investigations of journalists then pending.
ReplyDeleteHardly a whimper of support from those who champion the advancement of women I was keen to notice.
Lovely hair? Err
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your comments, this is indeed fantastic news.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, Ava/Bev - think the point was missed there...