New roles on senior News leadership team

Thank you so much for your ideas, insights and feedback during my first weeks as executive editor. Our conversations have reaffirmed what a special place AP is and how many great opportunities are ahead for us. I’m excited today to announce the first steps we’re taking to set up the News department to achieve our priorities: doubling down on breaking news and bolstering our speed and competitiveness across formats; meeting our audiences where they are by embracing digital storytelling and modern presentation and production practices; producing compelling and distinctive journalism that only AP can do; creating growth and development opportunities for all of our staff; and above all, ensuring that AP maintains its standing as the world’s preeminent fact-based news organization. I’m pleased to announce some key members of the senior News leadership team who will help lead these efforts:

Amanda Barrett will serve as our Vice President and Head of News Audience. In this new role, Amanda will have a relentless focus on how AP’s news is consumed online, by consumers on AP News and customers on AP Newsroom, as well on social media. At the heart of Amanda’s job is the audience experience — those we reach through our customers and the audiences we are growing on our own platforms and social media accounts. Amanda will also continue to oversee the Nerve Center and play a leading role in AP’s diversity and inclusion efforts, with the goal of ensuring that these priorities are shared and implemented across News.

Brian Carovillano takes on the new role of Vice President and Head of News Investigations, Enterprise, Grants and Partnerships. Brian has been the driving force behind some of AP’s most impactful journalism in recent years, including overseeing our Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage from Yemen and our groundbreaking reporting this year on the atrocities in Tigray and police abuse in Louisiana. Brian will build on this strong work by leading our efforts to secure more grants and partnerships to fund our journalism, with a particular focus on international and investigative reporting. This is a significant growth opportunity for AP, one that helps us add journalists to our teams and expand the scope of our coverage. He will also oversee our efforts in developing original content, including the AP Productions team in News. Brian will continue to work closely with Sarah Nordgren, who has led the way on so many of AP’s most successful grants and partnerships. Sarah will continue to help guide this effort and will focus in particular on building out a new global climate team that will put AP at the forefront of this crucial issue. Both Brian and Sarah will also continue to work closely with Lisa Gibbs, our director of news partnerships.

David Scott will serve as Vice President and Head of News Strategy and Operations. David will lead the development and initial implementation of our strategic priorities and goals — focusing not just on where we are now, but where we need to take AP in the coming years. He will work closely with colleagues in Products, Revenue and Technology to constantly review the shape and scope of AP’s news report, positioning us to deliver the current and future needs of our existing customers; and to evolve to serve the needs of new customers and prospective markets. David will also continue in his key role overseeing AP’s news and elections operations.

Please join me in congratulating Amanda, Brian, David and Sarah on their new roles. I look forward to talking with you more about our next steps in News as we fill out other key positions. Best,
Julie