HuffPost Australia appoints new editors in wake of joint venture closure
HuffPost Australia has appointed a new editor and senior editor to its local arm, nearly two months after its joint venture with Fairfax Media ended.
The US-based company has appointed Josh Butler – former HuffPost Australia associate editor – as editor of the title.
Butler joined the publication upon launch in 2015. His previous experience includes more than a year with the Illawarra Mercury as news reporter for emergency services, social and cultural affairs, and UN Correspondent for the IPS Inter Press Service in New York.’
Butler is now editor of HuffPost Australia
Meanwhile, senior associate editor Eoin Blackwell, has been promoted to the role of senior editor.
Blackwell and Butler have both been with HuffPost Australia since the publication first opened its Australian arm
Blackwell similarly joined the title when it first opened its local arm. He was previously news and finance reporter for Australian Associated Press, as has been a foreign correspondent in Papua New Guinea.
The appointments come off the back of a scale back of HuffPost’s operations locally, which was announced in November. The decision affected more than 30 employees and left a number of staff, including editor in chief Tory Maguire and CEO JJ Eastwood, without jobs.
https://twitter.com/_Tors/status/935736073006845953
At the time, it was understood HuffPost would operate with a “smaller local team”. Despite the official comment, the ‘standalone Australian edition’ was understood to mean several contractors – similar to what has occurred with HuffPost’s joint venture with The Times of India.
An announcement on Telum says Butler will cover topics including politics, technology, crime, drugs, housing, finance, immigration and breaking news for both Australian and American editions.
Mumbrella understands the local team will work as a foreign desk of the US operation, with HuffPost Australia’s dedicated website and social media pages remaining.
It is understood the set up is similar to that of the New York Times’ Australian Bureau, which was opened in December 2016 and is led by Damien Cave.
Mumbrella has approached Huffington Post for comment.
Elsewhere, former HuffPost staff members have continued resurfaced in new roles.
Former head of lifestyle Leigh Campbell has recently joined Mamamia as executive editor, while news editor Nicolette Logue has joined LinkedIn as managing editor.
