View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Comment
May 19, 2014

Guardian recruits New York Times journalist to become executive editor of digital

By Press Gazette

Guardian News and Media has recruited New York Times journalist Aron Pilhofer to fill new the job of executive editor of digital.

Here is the press announcementt:

Guardian News & Media (GNM) today announced the appointment of Aron Pilhofer – currently associate managing editor for digital strategy at the New York Times – to the newly-created role of executive editor of Digital. The announcement was made by incoming editor-in-chief of theguardian.com, Janine Gibson.

Pilhofer, who is also editor of interactive news at the New York Times, will work across the Guardian's editorial teams to develop and execute new and innovative digital journalism initiatives and tools to help grow global audiences and deepen reader engagement. His new role will see him helping drive the Guardian's digital transformation, working in concert with a global team of journalists and developers.

He will start in the Guardian's US newsroom in June and will move to the Guardian's offices in London over the summer.

At The New York Times, Pilhofer was responsible for helping develop and execute the newsroom's approach to technology, new product, analytics and social media. As the editor of Interactive News, Pilhofer led a 40-person team he founded and built in 2007, embedded within the newsroom, to create new forms of journalism by blending social media, analytics and technology.

"When we began talking in March, it was immediately apparent that Aron would bring the right combination of passion, ambition and skill to the Guardian," said Janine Gibson. "He is a terrifically talented and visionary editor who clearly understands the future of digital journalism and we're delighted he is joining our team."

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

"Aron Pilhofer is a pioneer of digital storytelling and inspires so many digital newsrooms in their search for the journalism of the future", said Wolfgang Blau, the Guardian's Director of Digital Strategy. "We are incredibly excited to have Aron join the Guardian during this critical phase of entering into a more collaborative relationship with our readers around the world."

"The Guardian has proven to be among the most exciting places to do quality, ambitious digital journalism on a global stage. I'm thrilled to be joining the team at such a fantastic time," said Pilhofer.

In April, the Guardian announced that it had broken through the 100 million monthly unique browser barrier for the first time, according to the latest ABC digital figures. Since launching its US and Australia digital editions in 2011 and 2013 respectively, traffic from outside of the UK now represents over two-thirds of the Guardian's total digital audience. Guardian US won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for its reporting of the NSA disclosures made by Edward Snowden. In 2014, the Guardian was named newspaper and website of the year at the Society of Editors UK Press Awards.

Topics in this article : ,

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network