USA Today has named Joanne Lipman the paper’s first female editor-in-chief, the company announced on Monday. In addition, she’ll keep her current role as chief content officer.
Lipman’s promotion is effective immediately. She previously worked at the Wall Street Journal and was the first female deputy managing editor at that paper, too. While at the Journal, she created Weekend Journal, Personal Journal and supervised coverage that won three Pulitzer Prize awards.
Patty Michalski, who has served as interim editor-in-chief, will be named senior director of digital audience development for USA Today Network and executive editor of digital content.
Lipman was also founding editor-in-chief of Conde Nast Portfolio magazine and portfolio.com and won Loeb and National Magazine Awards.
The Gannett-owned paper considers Lipman instrumental in efforts that include projects such as “Lead in the Water,” “Teachers Misconduct,” and “Trump and the Law.” She will remain focused on elevating the quality of journalism and storytelling across platforms.
Michalski will lead the company’s digital news transformation with a focus on mobile and social, while continuing to oversee the USA Today social team. She will also work cross-divisionally on efforts deepen audience reach and engagement through excellence in digital storytelling and user experience, according to a statement released by USA Today.