The appointment is the first in a series that will be made in the weeks ahead by new GNM editor-in-chief, Katharine Viner, who assumed the news organisation’s top editorial role yesterday.
Glendinning has built a career in journalism spanning 15 years and three continents, holding senior roles in the UK, US and her native Australia, where she worked side-by-side with Viner to launch Guardian Australia in 2013. Most recently she has been deputy editor of Guardian US, overseeing major scoops such as the revelations about widespread abuse at a secret police detention facility in Chicago. She began her career on the Sydney Morning Herald, before joining the Guardian as a reporter in 2006.
Glendinning was instrumental, says the Guardian, in the successful launch of Guardian Australia, driving record traffic, high levels of reader engagement, and delivering a series of high-profile stories - including former prime minister Julia Gillard breaking her silence on losing power; documents revealed by Edward Snowden showing Australian spy agencies targeted the phone of the Indonesian president; and publishing the only footage in existence of a riot where an asylum seeker was murdered in detention. She was part of the team that won the Walkley Award for multimedia storytelling in 2013 for Firestorm.
After taking over as deputy editor in New York late last year, Glendinning helped oversee the transformation of a newsroom that has increasingly established its authority with pioneering stories on US police brutality – from the Homan Square "black site" in Chicago to the unrest in Baltimore and a year-long interactive project launching today – alongside innovative reporting on politics and expanded American coverage in culture, sports and video. The Guardian’s US audience has grown to almost 30 million unique users, over a third of the Guardian’s total global readership. Guardian US had its two highest page-view traffic totals in April and May of this year.
Commenting on Glendinning’s appointment, Katharine Viner said: “Lee was an integral part of the success of Guardian Australia from the beginning, and has had a similarly dramatic impact on Guardian US, bringing excellent news judgment, digital flair and personal tenacity as well as strong management skills. Having worked very closely with Lee for the last two years, I know that she will make Guardian US an even bigger success."
Lee Glendinning, editor of Guardian US, said: “It is an incredible privilege to lead Guardian US as we continue to cover the stories that matter to our American audience and to deepen our engagement with readers around the world. I’m honoured to follow Kath in this role and to work with such an inspiring, dedicated and talented team of journalists. I really feel there is no limit to what the team at Guardian US can achieve.”
Viner has today also confirmed that Paul Johnson will remain deputy editor of Guardian News & Media; Emily Wilson stays on as editor of Guardian Australia; and John Mulholland will remain editor of The Observer, while also becoming assistant editor, the Guardian, with a particular responsibility for exploring how best to develop live journalism across GNM.
Viner said: “Paul, John and Emily are immensely respected colleagues and talented journalists. I am honoured to have them by my side as, together, we look to shape the future direction of Guardian News & Media.”
Further senior editorial appointments will be made in the coming weeks.
