• by Ray Schultz , April 17, 2024

The digital entertainment brand The Ankler has hired Katey Rich from Vanity Fair as its awards editor.

Rich served Vanity Fair for 10 years, most recently as awards and audio editor. She will lead and be the primary writer of The Ankler’s Prestige Junkie newsletter, and will launch a companion podcast. 

“I am thrilled to have Katey join our team,"

says Janice Min, CEO and Editor-in-Chief, Ankler Media. "She has had a long relationship with Richard Rushfield (editorial director and chief columnist), and a keen understanding and appreciation of great TV and films and real talent in how to convey that passion to an audience,” Also coming on board is Ashley Cullins, who will write the new Dealmakers newsletter, about the lawyers, agents and business people.  

Last week, The Ankler launched the Reel AI newsletter, which focuses on AI’s impact on Hollywood. It is being written by veteran entertainment executive Erik Barmack.

The Ankler achieved a 62% increase in ad revenue YOY in 2023. And it has seen a 500% increase in subscription revenue since it was launched as a Y Combinator company in January 2022, it claims. It has 80,000 subscribers. 

It also has drawn 1.3 million podcast downloads and says it is the third largest business newsletter on Substack.