Wall Street Journal names Cherney its coverage editor

Wall Street Journal editor in chief Matt Murray sent out the following announcement on Thursday:

Dear All:

I’m pleased to announce some important changes in duties on the leadership team as we continue the push to focus our coverage and further digitize amid the challenges of managing during Covid-19.

Effective immediately, Elena Cherney becomes Editor, Coverage, and our formidable news coverage chiefs—Jamie Heller, Charles Forelle, Gordon Fairclough, Emily Nelson, Stefanie Ilgenfritz and Paul Beckett— report to her, along with Mike Siconolfi and Larry Rout.

As you all know, Elena brings sharp news judgment, substantial business and reporting chops and empathetic leadership to the task of setting journalistic priorities with the chiefs and supporting reporters and editors. She is supremely qualified to help us up our game at a time when our jobs have gotten tougher, even as the need and opportunity for our journalism grows.

Chief News Editor Jason Anders, who has done more than anyone to advance the newsroom over the last three years, will concentrate his superb judgment on driving the news day, keeping our digital presentation sharp, running our daily meetings and serving as prime gatekeeper for all we publish. The Hub of course remains at the center of the newsroom and in coming months will take on new duties and teams.

Lisa Bannon, who has reported to Elena during the rebirth of Personal Journal, will report to Mike Miller, who with Chief News Strategist Louise Story and Leslie Yazel is working on broader plans for the digital presence of our features.

We’re at an important juncture on many fronts—on news, coverage priorities and on the ongoing digital transformation driven by Louise and the strategy editors.

Jason and Elena will work closely with each other and with the entire senior team. We’re fortunate to have their expertise and leadership maximally deployed given the work and opportunities we have ahead of us.

Matt