The Independent, the global media powerhouse committed to making change happen, today announced two new U.S. hires — Danika Fears as U.S. head of news, and Alex Lang as U.S. deputy news editor. The new hires follow the appointment of U.S. Editor Louise Thomas, who commenced her role in March after previously serving as the U.S. editor of MailOnline.
Fears brings over a decade of editorial excellence to The Independent. After starting as associate editor at TODAY.com and reporting for the New York Post, she spent six years as senior breaking news editor at The Daily Beast. There, she transformed a team of reporters into a dynamic newsroom, boosting story production and original reporting in politics, crime, breaking news and exclusives. As U.S. head of news, she will lead the U.S. editorial news team, setting the daily news agenda alongside Lang and Thomas, ensuring The Independent continues to grow as a prominent news force for diverse audiences.
Lang, a seasoned news veteran with a career spanning two decades in the U.S., will lead news efforts across The Independent’s U.S. editorial teams. Most recently, he served as the assistant news editor at Daily Mail, where he led breaking news and exclusives, delivering top news coverage to millions of readers daily. His investigative expertise earned him features on 20/20, Snapped and numerous True Crime podcasts, showcasing his exceptional skill in uncovering compelling stories.
In March, The Independent attracted an average of 28.4 million U.S. monthly readers, a 20% increase from the previous year, compared to other top news brands in the country which continue to see a decline in readership on average by 7%.*
Fears said: "Joining The Independent during this time of U.S. expansion is exciting. My experience at The Daily Beast aligns perfectly with The Independent's dynamic approach. I'm eager to bring my years of leading a breaking news team to The Independent's smart and incisive storytelling, making this new role a perfect fit."
Lang said: “I'm thrilled to join The Independent and its staff to continue to provide news coverage that readers have come to trust. I hope my experience can help further those efforts, as we continue to strive to provide readers coverage of what they need to know and what they want to know."
Thomas added: “Both Alex and Danika bring a superior level of journalistic standards along with an elevated sense of news and editorial expertise. Their leadership will help to propel The Independent as a valuable source for factual news and transparent reporting, as we continue to expand our editorial footprint across the U.S.”
* US readership metrics based on a March 2024 U.S. ComScore Traffic report reflecting digital audience traffic YoY across the top 10 global news brands, inclusive of The Independent, The New York Times, New York Post, USA TODAY, Washington Post, Daily Mail, The Guardian, The Sun, Los Angeles Times, and Daily Mirror.
About The Independent:
The Independent has been at the front line of journalism since its launch in 1986, with its purpose to challenge, debate and make change happen way ahead of its time. It is the U.K.’s largest quality digital news brand and a top 10 news brand in the U.S., and was the first of the quality news brands to become fully digital (in 2016). Publishing from 12 countries and in six languages, and with a network of global correspondents, The Independent is a truly global news organization. With a commitment to stay away from pacts with political parties, and with integrity, inclusion, innovation and independence as its guiding principles, The Independent is a dynamic, brand-safe environment for advertisers to reach a huge, loyal audience. For more information, visit independentadvertising.com and follow @IndyAdvertising on Twitter.
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