5:44 am - April 29, 2025
The Sky News chief has been appointed as the president of the Society of Editors, succeeding Kamal Ahmed.
Sky News’ Sarah Whitehead has been appointed as the new president of the Society of Editors, following her unanimous election during the Society’s annual general meeting on December 4. Whitehead, who has been with Sky since 2011, has held several significant roles, including Head of International News and Head of Home News, before being elevated to Director of Newsgathering earlier this year.
Dawn Alford, executive director of the Society, expressed her support for Whitehead’s election, stating that her leadership in the industry has been pivotal. “We are delighted that Sarah Whitehead, a highly respected news leader at Sky, has been elected as our president for the year ahead,” Alford said. She added that Whitehead’s commitment to media freedom and high editorial standards would be crucial as the Society outlines its priorities for the coming months.
Whitehead takes over from Kamal Ahmed, Director of Audio at The Telegraph, and assumes the leadership role at a time when the news publishing industry faces numerous challenges, including the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in content creation and the persistent issue of disinformation. Joy Yates, Regional Editor at Newsquest Cumbria, has been elected as the Vice-President of the Society, joining Whitehead in steering the organisation’s direction.
In her acceptance speech, Whitehead highlighted the collaborative strength of the Society of Editors. “It is a huge honour to be elected President and I’m excited about the year ahead and what as an organisation we can do,” she noted. She described the Society as a “fantastic space for people running news organisations across the country to get together,” emphasising that unity is vital for addressing the pressing challenges in the industry, such as AI, Slapps (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation), and the future of local journalism.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.journalism.co.uk/news/advice-for-student-journalists-from-sky-news-s-sarah-whitehead/s2/a554671/ – This article provides background on Sarah Whitehead’s career and roles at Sky News, including her experience in newsgathering and her previous positions.
- https://muckrack.com/sarah-whitehead – This profile confirms Sarah Whitehead’s current role as Director of Newsgathering and Operations at Sky News.
- https://rocketreach.co/sarah-whitehead-email_8775042 – This source also verifies Sarah Whitehead’s role as Director of Newsgathering and Operations at Sky News.
- https://prowly.com/profiles/journalists/sarah-whitehead – This profile further confirms her role and position at Sky News.
- https://www.noahwire.com – Although the specific article is not linked, this is the source mentioned for the information about Sarah Whitehead’s election as President of the Society of Editors.
- https://www.societyofeditors.org/ – The official website of the Society of Editors would likely have information about the election of new presidents and other leadership changes.
- https://www.thetelegraph.co.uk/news/18456941.kamal-ahmed-telegraph-director-audio/ – This link could provide information about Kamal Ahmed, the previous President of the Society of Editors, and his role at The Telegraph.
- https://www.newsquest.co.uk/news/local/cumbria/ – This link is to Newsquest Cumbria, where Joy Yates, the newly elected Vice-President, is a Regional Editor.
- https://www.skynews.com/ – The official Sky News website can provide context on the roles and responsibilities within the organization, including those held by Sarah Whitehead.
- https://www.journalism.co.uk/news/the-future-of-journalism-in-the-digital-age/s2/a554671/ – This article discusses the challenges faced by the news industry, including AI and disinformation, which are relevant to Whitehead’s new role.
- https://www.societyofeditors.org/about-us/ – The Society of Editors’ official website provides information on their mission, goals, and the issues they address, such as AI, SLAPPS, and local journalism.
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