• by Ray Schultz , June 3, 2023

Gannett Co. Inc. has named Terence Samuel as editor in chief of USA Today, effective July 10. 

The appointment comes roughly a month after editor Nicole Carroll stepped down following five years in the role. 

Previously, Samuel was vice president and executive editor of NPR News, and has also served in senior editorial positions at the Washington Post and National Journal.

The new job entails shaping content that serves over 75 million readers. 

“With his reputation of leading award-winning newsrooms and fostering cultural change, Terry will be instrumental in the next phase of growth at USA Today,” says Kristin Roberts, chief content officer.

Michael McCarter who served as interim editor in chief following Carroll’s departure, has been promoted to vice president of opinion. In this role, McCarter will lead a growth strategy across the USA Today Network of more than 200 media outlets nationwide, while continuing standards and ethics.

Meanwhile, Carroll has taken a post as head of a local journalism initiative at Arizona State University (ASU). Carroll will lead the project, working with ASU Media Enterprise, a nonprofit collective of media outlets, and ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, according to AZ Central.

In another Gannett promotion, Michael Anastasi has been named vice president of USA Today Network Local, overseeing USA Today Network newsrooms. Previously, Anastasi was regional editor, managing over 20 newsrooms.

Gannett’s content leadership team now includes, Samuel, McCarter and Anastasi, along with Rachel Lobdell, content chief of staff, and Tovah Olson, vice president for strategy and news analytics.

“These leaders will transform Gannett Media’s content organization so that we deliver on our single purpose – independent news and information that is essential in the communities we serve,” says Roberts. 

Samuels is also a former Ferris Professor of Journalism at Princeton University, and has also been a reporter at the Philadelphia Inquirer and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and chief congressional correspondent at U.S. News & World Report. He also was a writing fellow at the Village Voice.