Rest of World promotes Zelenko to executive editor

Rest of World editor in chief Anup Kaphle sent out the following on Monday:

We’re very happy to announce two important promotions at Rest of World:

Michael Zelenko has been promoted to executive editor of Rest of World, while Khushbu Shah O’Shea will take on a new role as Head of Development for the publication. Both roles will take effect on Jan 1, 2023.

Since joining us last year, Michael has played a central role in elevating our publishing standards, working tirelessly to improve the editorial processes and inject efficiency into our day-to-day operations. He has thought deeply about subjects Rest of World should cover, building on our readership success while regularly re-evaluating other efforts. He has also spent significant time filling our coverage gaps, by commissioning and editing stories on issues that have dominated the news cycle, including the war in Ukraine.

As executive editor, Michael will be responsible for ensuring that all our publishing is aligned with our editorial strategy, and that it is consistent and meets the highest editorial standards. He will also continue to analyze our published work on a regular basis, helping us review and revise the publishing strategy to meet our editorial and audience goals. We will be starting the new year with the largest editorial team since launch, and I am confident that Michael’s ambition, rigor, and high bar for excellence will help this talented team achieve new heights in the coming year.

The new role for Khushbu is an exciting opportunity for us as a publication, and it couldn’t come at a more crucial time. Diversifying our funding will be one of the key goals for the leadership team next year, and Khushbu’s previous experience as a leader in the non-profit media industry and her deep knowledge of Rest of World’s editorial mission makes her an ideal candidate to lead us on this new adventure.

As head of development, Khushbu will be responsible for designing and executing an ambitious growth strategy to support the long-term financial sustainability of Rest of World. In her first year, she will focus primarily on two big items – building our Board, which is an integral part of any fundraising infrastructure, and developing our fundraising strategy. Khushbu will be working closely with Sophie, Eli, and Anup to ensure that any proposals for grants, sponsorships, and large donations are aligned with our operational and editorial goals for the long term.

Congratulations Michael and Khushbu!