NZME has brought on board Irene Chapple as the NZ Herald’s new digital editor, who is returning to the Herald after ten years in other roles, and several years overseas.
Chapple is currently an associate editor of digital business at CNN in London, and will return fulltime to Auckland in November to drive the Herald’s digital journalism, storytelling content and audience growth, a release says.
An NZME spokesperson says group general manager of digital content Marcus Forbes has been filling in as digital editor while NZME was searching for a new digital editor. He will remain in his current role when Chapple starts.
Her current role at CNN involves assisting the international editor heading teams in London and Hong Kong, with the daily news agenda and long-term planning and working across television and digital to ensure seamless coverage, her Linked In profile says.
“Irene’s appointment is a big coup – we’re delighted somebody with her talent and background is coming home to help lead our new, integrated NZME newsroom,” said NZ Herald managing editor Shayne Currie. “With Irene joining the senior team, we have world-class newsroom leaders who will drive the best and most engaging journalism, and deliver it when and how our audience want it.”
Chapple has been a journalist for 20 years, including stints as a NZ Herald business journalist and Sunday Star-Times political editor. She has been based overseas for the past eight years, including roles at the Financial Times Group, Dow Jones and at CNN international. Her work has featured on CNN, in the Wall St Journal and on FT.com, the release says.
“Over the past eight years, Irene has been exposed to – and been part of – some of the biggest changes in the global media industry,” said Currie. “That experience makes her the ideal person to help lead our newsroom in new forms of journalism and content platforms. As well as an outstanding journalist and storyteller, Irene is a thoroughly modern newsroom leader, attune to audience needs and demands.”
Chapple said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the New Zealand Herald at such an exciting time. There are so many talented journalists within the organisation and I’m looking forward to working with them. NZME is committed to developing a world-class digital newsroom and our audience can expect new and innovative ways of storytelling.”
