Katherine Viner named editor-in-chief of the Guardian

Katharine Viner has been named editor in chief of the Guardian, and will become the first woman to run the British paper in its 194-year history, the news organization said in its online edition late Friday. Viner is currently based in New York as editor in chief of Guardian U.S., and will replace Alan Rusbridger, who stepped down in December after 20 years. She will become the 12th editor since the paper, which won a Pulitzer Prize for public service in 2014, was founded in May 1821. As reported, Rusbridger will become chairman of the Scott Trust, parent of the Guardian and Observer newspapers, in 2016, replacing Liz Forgan when she ends her term as chair. The paper said Viner, who began her career at Cosmopolitan magazine, “won the overwhelming support” of staff in a ballot held earlier this month. Staff from the Guardian, which is published during the week, and from the Observer, published on Sundays, had the chance to vote, although the trust had previously said it reserved the right to select the final candidate, regardless of any poll. The trust, whose mission is to safeguard the title’s editorial future and independence, announced its decision early Friday evening after members of the board

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