USA TODAY names NPR executive editor Terence Samuel as editor-in-chief

USA TODAY has named Terence Samuel, NPR News’ vice president and executive editor, as editor-in-chief effective July 10.

In his new role, Samuel will help lead the publication through “the next phase of growth and innovation,” according to an announcement from USA TODAY parent company Gannett Co. released Friday. 

“USA TODAY has a distinctive and groundbreaking history in American journalism and is uniquely positioned to inform the conversations and tell the stories that impact American life,” Samuel said in the release. "It’s an honor to join such an accomplished group of journalists to help lead this iconic brand into a digital future that is as exciting as it is challenging.”

Samuel succeeds Nicole Carroll who stepped down May 1 after more than five years of leading the news organization.

Kristin Roberts, Gannett’s recently appointed chief content officer, said Samuel “will be instrumental in the next phase of growth at USA TODAY.” 

“Terry will accelerate our transformation of USA TODAY, embracing our role and our roots as America's newspaper with the core mission of being nothing less than essential to the readers, viewers and listeners we serve nationwide," Roberts said in the release. 

At NPR News, Samuel oversaw newsgathering for the broadcast network. He has also held senior editorial positions at the Washington Post and National Journal. 

His career in journalism began as a writing fellow at The Village Voice. He went on to work as a reporter at the Roanoke Times, a national correspondent at the Philadelphia Inquirer and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and chief congressional correspondent at U.S. News & World Report.

Samuel is also a former Ferris Professor of Journalism at Princeton University and currently serves on the board of the National Press Foundation.

Gannett on Friday also announced that Michael McCarter, who served as USA TODAY’s interim editor-in-chief, has been promoted to vice president of opinion and will continue overseeing standards, ethics, and belonging at the USA TODAY Network.

With the recent changes, Gannett’s content leadership team includes Content Chief of Staff Rachel Lobdell, Vice President for Strategy and News Analytics Tovah Olson, Samuel, McCarter and Michael Anastasi, vice president of USA TODAY Network Local.

“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,” Roberts said in the release. “With enormous talent and deep roots in diverse communities across the country, this team will deliver impactful journalism that creates value for our readers.”