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Financial Times hires ex-BuzzFeed UK editor-in-chief Janine Gibson as it hits 1m subs

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By John McCarthy, Opinion Editor

April 2, 2019 | 3 min read

The Financial Times has hired former BuzzFeed UK editor-in-chief Janine Gibson.

Gibson

Financial Times snaps up ex BuzzFeed UK editor-in-chief Janine Gibson as it hits 1m subs

Gibson, who left BuzzFeed back in January, preceding a staff exodus at the regional bureau, joins the title's editorial leadership team taking on the assistant editor role. She will work with FT editor, Lionel Barber, and incoming news editor, Matt Garrahan, among others.

FT said Gibson will "identify themes and assignments that merit deep, original reporting, both in print and online". Her appoint will reportedly "add new creative dimensions" to the newsroom.

Formerly, she was Guardian US editor-in-chief in New York during a 17-year stint at the newsbrand. She took the lead on its Snowden/National Security Agency investigation team that won a Pulitzer Prize and an Emmy.

Barber said: "I'm thrilled Janine is joining the top team at the FT. She is a world-class journalist who will give us a fresh edge and new perspectives as we grow our worldwide readership.”

It comes as the Financial Times reports it has hit one million paid subscribers, the highest it has ever had in its 131-year history. The psychologically significant tally was crossed a full year ahead of an ambitious growth target since implementing paid trials as its primary pay model back in 2015. These numbers helped to power operating revenues to £383m and operating profits to £25m. 650,000 digital subscribers make up one million customers. It added that 70% of its readers hail from outside the UK.

It marks a week where several of her former BuzzFeed colleagues have picked up work elsewhere, Scotty Bryan to Radio Times, and more broadly, Mike Giglio to The Atlantic, and former political editor Alice Workman to The Australian.

Financial Times Media The Guardian

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