Gannett, the parent company of USA Today, has appointed former editor-in-chief Wendy Naugle as Entertainment’s new executive editor.
Gannett, the parent company of USA Today, tapped Wendy Naugle, former Editor-in-Chief of People, as Entertainment’s new executive editor.
Naugle oversees entertainment strategies for more than 200 local publications in USA Today and Gannett, focusing on audience and revenue growth. She will report to Monica Richardson, senior vice president of USA Today, starting July 28th.
“Wendy’s outstanding editorial vision and deep industry knowledge will help shape the future of our entertainment coverage,” Richardson said in a news release from Gannett. “We are confident that her experience will help us connect with our audience in meaningful and innovative ways across all platforms.”
Naugle’s introduction to the company occurs in a shift in Gannett, in a shift to competitive areas such as entertainment and sports, as well as deep engagement with readers at the local level across a national network of community-based newsrooms.
“We’re increasing the reasons why we come to consumers, more reasons to stay, more reasons to engage with partners, more reasons to subscribe,” said president of Gannett Media Kristin Roberts in a revenue call in May.
Naugle’s role in that strategy includes converting the USA Today Network into the country’s leading entertainment brands, heading straight with top entertainment sites.
Naugle’s arrival is the latest change in Gannett’s leadership team. In June, the company named Joe Miranda, former executive vice president and Chief Digital and Technology Director at Herbal Life, as Chief Technology and Data Director. Trisha Gosser was appointed Chief Financial Officer in March after serving as Douglas Horne.
A graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, Naugle joined Dotdash Meredith as his assistant editor in 2019 and moved to the role of editor-in-chief in 2022. She left the company in January to complete the novel.
Previously, she worked as an executive editor of Condé Nast’s charm for nearly 20 years. There, we moved to digital-first content and the annual Women’s Awards and Summit. She also directed the launch of Glamour’s first podcast series and an award-winning campaign against domestic violence.
According to Dotdash Meredith, her stories on subjects such as breast implants, health insurance and reproductive rights are among two national magazine awards, including Personal Services and the National Press Club’s Consumer Journalism Award, as well as other honors. Naugle also served on the NYU Publishing Center board of directors.
Naugle said it aims to connect communities across the country using entertainment news.
“It’s an incredible opportunity for entertainment. Of course, we’re all thinking about Hollywood and Los Angeles, but entertainment is more than that,” she said. “We’re seeing exciting things happening with Nashville music. There’s more filming in Atlanta than ever. With entertainment changing, I think Gannett and the USA Today network are very well suited to take advantage of all the opportunities in the entertainment landscape.”
