Versha Sharma

Versha Rani Sharma (born c. 1986)[1] is an American journalist and editor. She is editor in chief of Teen Vogue. From 2015 to 2021 she was managing editor at NowThis, where she shared in a 2018 Edward R. Murrow Award for a documentary on Hurricane Maria's effects on Puerto Rico. She is on the board of the Online News Association.

Versha Sharma
Bornc. 1986
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alma materCentenary College of Louisiana
Occupation(s)Journalist, editor
Years active2009–present
EmployerTeen Vogue
TitleEditor in chief
AwardsEdward R. Murrow Award

Early life

Sharma was born and raised in Alexandria, Louisiana,[2][3] the daughter of Indian immigrants.[4] She attended Bolton High School, graduating in 2004,[5] then Centenary College of Louisiana in Shreveport, where she studied political science.[2] She graduated in 2008,[2] then worked on Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.[3]

Journalism career

Sharma began working in newsmedia as a writer and editor for Talking Points Memo[6] and MSNBC's Lean Forward.[3] She covered the 2012 United States presidential election for MSNBC's website.[4] In 2015, she became managing editor at NowThis,[4] where she shared in a 2018 Edward R. Murrow Award for her work on a documentary on Hurricane Maria's effects on Puerto Rico.[1] "Puerto Rico: After the Hurricane" won for Excellence in Video in the Large Digital News Organization division.[7]

In May 2021, she was named editor in chief of Teen Vogue.[1] In assuming the role at Condé Nast, Sharma was part of an increase in women's newsroom leadership; Adweek noted she was one of "a dozen women…named editors in chief at some of the most influential publishers in the world" in 2021.[8] CNN also noted her appointment as part of diversifying newsroom leadership that took place in 2021, as she became the first South Asian American to hold the role,[9] and additionally discussed the growing expectations for change to newsroom culture, beyond the new heads.[10] Sharma told CNN that concern for the state of her team was a management priority for her, saying, "I pride myself on being a leader with empathy. Despite the fact that our job is storytelling, a lot of newsroom leaders don't value that or prioritize that."[10]

Sharma is also a member of the board of the Online News Association.[4]

Personal life

Sharma has lived in New York since 2009.[4] She is married to journalist and author Casey Michel. They have a golden retriever named George.

References
  1. Robertson, Katie (May 10, 2021). "Teen Vogue has a new top editor". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  2. Kennell, Tiana. "Versha Sharma, Centenary College alumna, named Teen Vogue top editor". The Times. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  3. Kennell, Tiana. "Centenary College alum interviews President Obama". The Times. Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  4. "NowThis editor Versha Sharma to take over at Teen Vogue". AP NEWS. May 10, 2021. Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  5. "Class of 2004". The Town Talk. May 20, 2004. p. 14. Archived from the original on January 9, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  6. Bhattacharya, Shriya (May 11, 2022). "Teen Vogue's First Indian American Editor-In-Chief Versha Sharma is the Newest Role Model for Young South Asians Around the World". Brown Girl Magazine. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  7. "2018 National Edward R. Murrow Award Winners". www.rtdna.org. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  8. Stenberg, Mark (July 15, 2021). "Women Named Editor in Chief of a Major Newsroom in 2021". Adweek. Archived from the original on November 6, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  9. "Who will lead America's newsrooms?". Poynter. May 11, 2021. Archived from the original on July 6, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  10. Flynn, Kerry (August 17, 2021). "Newsroom leadership has never been this diverse, but that's not enough". CNN. Archived from the original on January 4, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
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