Channel 4 News head of digital Jon Laurence leaves for NowThis role
Jon Laurence has left his role as head of digital for Channel 4 News to take up a new post as deputy editor at US social video publisher NowThis.
Jon Laurence
Relocating to New York, Laurence will oversee “editorial vision and execution”, the company said, as well as managing day-to-day operations in its newsroom.
He will also work with the senior leadership team to “develop strategic plans for future growth and expansion into new channels and markets”.
Laurence spent almost three years at Channel 4 News, where he was responsible for its daily online output and spearheaded a successful push into social video that yielded 2bn annual views. His role in the programme's digital transformation was recognised in 2017 when he was named online editor of the year at The Drum’s Online Media Awards.
“Jon’s work leading digital and social video at Channel 4 was exemplary in every way,” said Sarah Frank, NowThis editor. “His talents in storytelling, original journalism and making news massively engaging will expand the NowThis editorial brand in new and exciting ways."
Launched in 2012, NowThis specialises in creating news content for social and mobile audiences and focuses on 11 verticals including politics, entertainment, future, her, money and sports. It claims to have more than 2.5bn monthly video views.
"I'm passionate about bringing stories that really matter to younger audiences across the world – and there's no better place to do that than NowThis,” said Laurence.
Before Channel 4 News Laurence held senior positions at Telegraph Media Group and Sky News.