MSNBC is taking over control of TheGrio, NBC’s news site targeting African Americans. MSNBC senior VP and executive editor Yvette Miley will add executive editor of TheGrio to her title.
TheGrio co-founders David Wilson and Dan Woosley–who helped launch it in 2009 with NBC–are departing the site, though they will stay on in an advisory role. Joy-Ann Reid will stay on as managing editor. While the site will fall under MSNBC, NBC News digital will provide operational and technological support.
“Under MSNBC, theGrio will be able to further build on its existing position of strength as a community for smart and engaging dialogue, opinions and perspectives, and continue to be an incubator for great stories and ideas for the entire NBCUniversal News Group,” write MSNBC president Phil Griffin and NBC News chief digital officer Vivian Schiller in a note to staff today.
That full memo, after the jump.
From: NBC News Communications (NBCUniversal)
Sent: Thursday, May 30, 2013 11:24 AM
Subject: A note from Phil Griffin & Vivian SchillerTeam,
We have bittersweet news to share today. David Wilson and Dan Woolsey, the founders of theGrio, will be changing their full-time relationship with NBC News to pursue new ventures outside of the news industry. They will continue to support theGrio as part-time advisors. David and Dan have been fundamental to the development and growth of the site since the 2009 launch. Under their guidance, theGrio has become a leading community for African-American news, opinions, and perspectives. We thank them for the immense value they’ve brought to this news organization over the years and wish them nothing but success on their future endeavors.
Effective immediately, Yvette Miley, Senior Vice President and Executive Editor of MSNBC, will add Executive Editor of theGrio to her portfolio. As you know, Yvette is a fantastic leader with a strong editorial vision. She has been instrumental in evolving MSNBC’s daytime and weekend programs and is a natural fit to join Joy-Ann Reid, who continues as Managing Editor of theGrio, to lead theGrio’s team of talented journalists and contributors.
theGrio will be managed by MSNBC going forward, with Yvette continuing to report to Phil. Vivian’s team at NBC News Digital will support the site’s operations and technology. Under MSNBC, theGrio will be able to further build on its existing position of strength as a community for smart and engaging dialogue, opinions and perspectives, and continue to be an incubator for great stories and ideas for the entire NBCUniversal News Group.
Please join us in congratulating Yvette, David and Dan.
Phil & Vivian