London, 16 June 2015 – BuzzFeed announced today a significant investment in its editorial operations in the United Kingdom, appointing former Guardian US editor Janine Gibson to the role of editor-in-chief for BuzzFeed UK. This is the latest move from BuzzFeed as it continues to ramp up its global presence, which now includes nine international editions.
"With the audience and momentum we built around the 2015 election, and now with the addition of Janine, we have a rare opportunity to double down on the great work of Luke Lewis and his team and bring a new voice to the top tier of UK publishers," said BuzzFeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith. "Janine is uniquely placed to lead a new kind of British news organisation, and Luke and I are thrilled she'll be doing that at BuzzFeed."
Launched in March 2013, BuzzFeed's UK edition began with a three-person staff focused on humour and British identity, and since then has grown its audience sixfold, with more than 18 million monthly unique visitors. BuzzFeed UK has expanded its voice and coverage, and has had significant impact during the most important cultural moments across the region.
Gibson will manage the more than 40 reporters and writers currently based in London and oversee all editorial content, including the site's News, Buzz, and Life divisions. She will also be hiring across those areas, with plans to invest particularly aggressively in BuzzFeed News' British operation. Lewis will continue as a key leader in BuzzFeed's London newsroom, with a focus on entertainment coupled with data and analytics as BuzzFeed continues to grow internationally.
"I've long been impressed by the organisation that Jonah and Ben have built in BuzzFeed, and am extremely honoured to be charged with growing the incredibly talented team that Luke has built," Gibson said. "I can't think of a more exciting place in British journalism right now, and am thrilled at the opportunity to further BuzzFeed's reputation as a force for breaking news, insightful reporting, and very good jokes."
Gibson is known as one of the world's top news editors, having held various senior positions at The Guardian since joining the organisation in 1998 as its media correspondent. She is perhaps best known for her role in establishing Guardian US, where she launched The Guardian's highly successful New York–based digital edition, and oversaw its Pulitzer Prize–winning coverage of the biggest media story of the decade, the Edward Snowden leaks. Prior to her overseas stint, Gibson served as editor for various sections, including Media, Society, Education, and Technology, and eventually oversaw all digital content for Guardian News & Media.
About BuzzFeed
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