Gannett, Co. Inc., owner of the Des Moines Register, part of the USA TODAY Network, announced it has hired veteran journalist Rachel E. Stassen-Berger to serve as the Register’s new executive editor, effective June 2. Stassen-Berger will oversee all aspects of The Register’s editorial operations, including developing content strategy and innovation as well as engaging with the community and increasing efforts to reach new audiences.
Stassen-Berger most recently led the Omaha World-Herald. Earlier, she served as political editor and news director at The Register, guiding the newsroom through the 2020 caucuses, COVID-19 and continuing the Register’s legacy of powerful accountability journalism. She came to Iowa steeped in politics, with roles in Minnesota as a Capitol Bureau Chief, reporter and columnist for the St. Paul Pioneer Press and a political writer for the Star Tribune. She has also been a reporter in Minneapolis, Eastern Europe, the suburbs of Philadelphia and New York.
At the Register, she edited major works, from the tale of a veteran who accused her superior of rape; a piece that traced a QAnon believer’s path to the U.S. Capitol riot; and an exposé on the poor care at a state-run home for people with disabilities that led to a federal investigation and eventual closure of the facility.
“I am honored to return to the Des Moines Register as its executive editor,” Stassen-Berger said. “I look forward to supporting the talented Register staff as they produce journalism with impact that connects with and reflects our Iowa community. I am enthusiastic about burnishing the Register's legacy while encouraging innovation and new energy.”
She replaces Carol Hunter, who retired in January after a distinguished career at The Register.
“Rachel has spent her career demonstrating the strength and necessity of local journalism that is essential to the community it serves,” said Ray Rivera, Gannett vice president and Middle America region editor. “We are confident that she is the right person to lead this storied publication to new realms of audience growth and powerful journalism that is impossible to ignore.”
About The Des Moines Register:
The Des Moines Register, established in 1849 and winner of 17 Pulitzer Prizes, is a multi-platform media organization offering advanced marketing services amid a content-rich environment of news and information. Its reach among adults far exceeds that of any other local medium in Iowa, with distribution in more than 75 counties state-wide. In addition to the Des Moines Register, the portfolio includes 10 community and weekly newspapers, niche publications and special sections, and a multitude of web and mobile sites, including DesMoinesRegister.com, HawkCentral.com, DMJuice.com, and RAGBRAI.com.
About Gannett:
Gannett Co., Inc. is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a sustainable, growth focused media and digital marketing solutions company. Through our trusted brands, including the USA TODAY NETWORK, comprised of the national publication, USA TODAY, and local media organizations, including our network of local properties, in the United States, and Newsquest, a wholly-owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom, we provide essential journalism, local content, and digital experiences to audiences and businesses. We deliver high-quality, trusted content with a commitment to balanced, unbiased journalism, where and when consumers want to engage. Our digital marketing solutions brand, LocaliQ, supports small and medium-sized businesses with innovative digital marketing products and solutions.
About the USA TODAY Network:
USA TODAY NETWORK, part of Gannett Co, Inc. (NYSE: GCI), is the leading news media publisher in the U.S. in terms of circulation and has the largest digital audience in the News and Information category, excluding news aggregators, based on the December 2024 Comscore Media Metrix® Desktop + Mobile. Our Domestic Gannett Media segment is comprised of USA TODAY, daily and weekly content brands in approximately 220 local U.S. markets across 43 states and our community events business, USA TODAY NETWORK Ventures. With deep roots in local communities spanning the U.S., we engage approximately 140 million monthly unique visitors, on average, through a diverse portfolio of multi-platform content offerings and experiences. For more information, visit gannett.com.
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