• by Ray Schultz , Columnist, Yesterday

Just in time for the holidays, Caren Bohan has stepped down as editor in chief of USA Today after roughly 14 months in the job. 

USA Today confirmed the news, but would not comment further. It was unclear whether Bohan was leaving for another post, or if there were performance or strategic issues. 

Michael McCarter, who has led opinion teams at USA Today, will serve as interim editor in chief. 

USA Today is now looking for a replacement, one who will hold the title of vice president of news, The New York Times reports.

Bohan stepped into the EIC role on an interim basis when Terence Samuel left the job in July 2024. She was appointed to the full-time post in September of that year, and is thus the second editor in chief to leave in less than a year. 

Bohan put it this way in a post: 

“Some news: I'm leaving my role as editor in chief of USA TODAY. I am tremendously proud of the work we did, including our audience-first approach to storytelling, watchdog journalism and deeply reported narrative stories. Despite the many challenges facing our industry, the journalists at USA TODAY and the USA TODAY Network do outstanding work every day that informs and enlightens our communities. I'm so grateful for the privilege of working with the brilliant, devoted and talented journalists in this newsroom.”

Bohan is one of several top editors in publishinng who have left their posts, voluntarily or involuntarily, over the past year. 

Perhaps the most controversial was that of Versha Sharma, who left as editor of Teen Vogue as that product was rolled into Vogue. She was replaced by Chloe Malle. 

In addition, Eugenia Richman was replaced as editor in chief of WWD by Michael Atmore to take on the title of vice president of editorial innovation. And Kimi Yoshino resigned from The Baltimore Banner to join The Washington Post, and was replaced by Audrey Cooper. 

Bohan, who was in charge of USA Today but did not run the USA Today Network, was praised for her work.

“Caren Bohan has been a valued colleague during her tenure at USA Today. We sincerely wish her well and thank her for her many contributions,” wrote Monica Richardson, senior vice president, USA Today, who appointed Bohan last year, in a staff memo.