Vice has hired veteran news exec Susie Banikarim to serve as its EVP and global head of newsgathering — a newly-formed role.
In this capacity, Banikarim will lead daily news coverage and newsroom operations at Vice globally, including its bureaus in New York, Washington D.C., London, and Los Angeles — as well as its digital and social news divisions. She will also oversee the company’s audio reporting teams, its documentary partnerships with Hulu and Showtime, and news coverage of its revamped television channel, including the relaunch of its nightly series Vice News Tonight, slated for 2020. (Her hire arrives in the wake of the departure of Josh Tyrangiel, who left Vice amid HBO’s cancellation of three-year-old Vice News Tonight).
Banikarim, will start on Jan 6, based out of Vice’s Brooklyn headquarters and reporting directly to the company’s global news and entertainment president Jesse Angelo.
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“In a time when we are losing many of media’s most brash voices, Vice continues to tackle stories others won’t with unique authenticity and irreverence,” Banikarim said in a statement. “Vice News’ commitment to fearless, provocative, global journalism is unrivaled and I’m looking forward to working with Jesse and the incredible team to shape its next chapter.”
Banikarim, a five-time Emmy nominee, most recently served as editorial director and EVP of Gizmodo, where she oversaw editorial strategy for Deadspin, Gizmodo, Jalopnik, Jezebel, Kotaku, Lifehacker, Splinter, and The Root. Prior to that, she served as chief content officer of media and tech startup Vocativ, as well as an executive on Katie Couric’s syndicated talk show. She began her journalism career at ABC News, serving as an anchor producer for Diane Sawyer, George Stephanopoulos, Charlie Gibson, and David Muir.
Other recent news hires and promotions at Vice include Washington D.C. bureau chief Seb Walker, executive producer Maral Usefi, Los Angeles deputy bureau chief Joelle Martinez, and newly-tapped on-air correspondents Paola Ramos, Chris Moody, Femi Redwood, and Michael Anthony Adams.
