Katharine Viner, editor-in-chief of Guardian Australia and deputy editor of the Guardian, said she was inundated with applications for the roles. She said that what united the new hires was their impressive digital skills and commitment to finding innovative ways to bring stories to life.
Three reporters will be joining Guardian Australia in the coming weeks. They are Helen Davidson, currently a journalist at SBS and formerly at news.com.au; Bridie Jabour, currently a reporter at brisbanetimes.com.au; and Oliver Milman, currently editor of StartupSmart.com.au and environmental writer for the Guardian. Another addition to the growing team is Nick Evershed, currently multimedia editor at Fairfax Regional Digital Media, who joins as a data journalist.
Joining the political editor, Lenore Taylor, and deputy political editor, Katharine Murphy, as part of Guardian Australia's political team in the run-up to the federal election are Simon Jackman, professor of political science at Stanford University, as a polling expert, and Greg Jericho, author of the Grog's Gamut blog, grogsgamut.blogspot.com.au, to write on economics.
Mike Ticher, currently working on the foreign desk for Fairfax Media, will take the role of Guardian site editor for the Asia-Pacific timezone.
"I am delighted to welcome these new recruits to Guardian Australia as we continue to add depth to our small but strong team of talented journalists," said Viner.
"Simon is an internationally recognised expert on politics and public opinion. Greg is one of Australia's pre-eminent bloggers. Nick will enhance the Guardian's global reputation for data journalism, while Bridie, Oliver and Helen impressed us with their energy and understanding of digital media. Mike brings a huge amount of news experience to the site editor role.
"All show a commitment to finding new ways to tell stories in this rapidly changing media landscape, and will help Guardian Australia deliver the on-the-ground reporting, ground-breaking open journalism and lively commentary that has made the Guardian the fourth largest newspaper website in the world."
The new hires will join award-winning journalist David Marr; news editor, Lee Glendinning; political editor, Lenore Taylor; and deputy political editor, Katharine Murphy.
