Fortune has hired digital-media veteran Alyson Shontell as its next top editor, in a bid to expand the business magazine’s online readership and revenue as its print business fades. (WSJ)
Shontell is the first woman to serve as top editor at Fortune. In her new role, she will oversee the outlet’s daily news coverage as well as its annual and special projects like the Fortune 500 list, yearly Most Powerful Women in Business list and 100 Best Companies to Work For rankings. (The Hill)
Fortune’s former editor in chief, Clifton Leaf, is stepping down from the role. Deputy editor Brian O’Keefe has served as acting editor in chief in the interim. (Axios)
Shontell was a member of the founding team at Insider, joining in 2008 and serving as editor in chief since 2016. Fortune, which was purchased by Chatchaval Jiaravanon in 2018, expects a 74 percent increase in digital revenue in 2021 compared to 2020 and a 121 percent increase since 2019. The site launched a redesigned print magazine, website and app last year. (TheWrap)
Fortune joins a raft of media outlets that now have women as their top editors, a rank historically dominated by men. The Washington Post named Sally Buzbee as its executive editor in May. She was replaced in her previous role, executive editor of The Associated Press, by Julie Pace. Last week, Axios named Sara Kehaulani Goo as its editor in chief and Aja Whitaker-Moore as its executive editor. (NYT)