Sign up for our daily briefing
Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.
Stay on top of the latest market trends
Subscribe to Axios Markets for the latest market trends and economic insights. Sign up for free.
Sports news worthy of your time
Binge on the stats and stories that drive the sports world with Axios Sports. Sign up for free.
Tech news worthy of your time
Get our smart take on technology from the Valley and D.C. with Axios Login. Sign up for free.
Get the inside stories
Get an insider's guide to the new White House with Axios Sneak Peek. Sign up for free.
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Want a daily digest of the top Denver news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver
Want a daily digest of the top Des Moines news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines
Want a daily digest of the top Twin Cities news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities
Want a daily digest of the top Tampa Bay news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay
Want a daily digest of the top Charlotte news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte
Photo: USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism via BuzzFeed News
BuzzFeed founder and CEO Jonah Peretti announced Tuesday that Mark Schoofs will be the new editor-in-chief of BuzzFeed News, replacing Ben Smith, who left the company to join the New York Times as a media columnist.
Why it matters: Schoofs is a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist whose 30-year career has spanned a variety of newsrooms, including the Wall Street Journal, ProPublica and the Village Voice.
- BuzzFeed hired Schoofs in 2013 to lead its then-new investigative reporting unit.
- Under his leadership, BuzzFeed's investigative team broke major stories on abuse at America’s largest psychiatric hospital as well as uncovering how one of the U.K.’s largest banks profited by destroying small businesses and selling their assets.
Between the lines: Schoofs, who currently serves as a visiting professor at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, will continue to serve on the faculty, and he'll build on that relationship as a part of his new role at BuzzFeed.
- The school will offer one course taught by Schoofs on journalism beginning this fall and another taught by Peretti on internet culture, networks and digital media, according to a statement from BuzzFeed.
- BuzzFeed News will also create an internship program for USC students.
The big picture: Schoof's hiring comes as BuzzFeed, like other digital media companies, has had to make changes to weather the coronavirus crisis.
- BuzzFeed said last month it will be imposing a graduated salary reduction for its employees, with top executives taking a 14–25% cut. The plan will be applied to the "majority of the company" throughout April and May, and it will be reevaluated on a monthly basis. Peretti won't be taking compensation. A few employees from BuzzFeed's live Twitter show "AM2DM" were laid off.
What's next: Schoofs begins on May 18 and will be based in Los Angeles.
Go deeper: Ben Smith leaving BuzzFeed to take over NYT media column