WSJ names Forsyth its US editor

Wall Street Journal managing editor Gerard Baker sent out the following announcement on Tuesday afternoon:

I’m delighted to announce that Jennifer Forsyth is appointed US Editor. In this newly enhanced role, the latest step in our reorganization and integration process, Jennifer will lead the combined U.S. reporting and editing teams of the Journal and Newswires as we continue to broaden our coverage of general U.S. news across all platforms, in areas including economics, politics, education and other topics.

As the Journal has demonstrated in the last five years, and particularly in the last 20 months under Jennifer’s leadership, we are a serious player in big national news in a way that can drive events and satisfy the high demands of our readers for straight information and analysis. In the last two weeks alone, the Journal showed its leadership and prowess on a range of big stories from the Boston attacks to the Texas plant explosion, the gun legislation and its national ripples to the bizarre ricin case. Integration and restructuring will allow Jen to build on all that we’ve accomplished in chronicling the big news and trends that shape the nation, especially by enhancing our real-time coverage.

Jennifer is well-suited to lead us in this arena, with a long track record of news reporting and investigative work. In her time on the national desk, she has been central to big stories including Hurricane Sandy and last year’s election coverage. In her previous job as Dallas bureau chief, she led our unrivaled investigative coverage of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Since arriving here, Jennifer also has served as law bureau chief and a real estate editor and reporter. Prior to joining the Journal she worked in papers in Shreveport, La. and Plattsburgh., N.Y. and at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Please join me in congratulating Jennifer on this important new role.