Huffington Post Names Liz Heron Executive Editor

Liz Hezron | Photo Credit: Casey Capach

Liz Heron, a veteran journalist and social media editor, has joined the Huffington Post as its new executive editor.

Ms. Heron spent the past 18 months at Facebook as the company’s head of news partnerships. Prior to that role, she logged stints at both The Wall Street Journal and the New York Times in prominent social media positions.

At the Huffington Post, Ms. Heron will effectively serve as editor-in-chief Arianna Huffington’s second-in-command. Her responsibilities will include oversight of both editorial strategy and audience development.

Ms. Huffington said she’s been searching for an executive editor for several months, and started talking to Ms. Heron roughly two months ago.

The plan is to have Ms. Heron and Ms. Huffington jointly steer the Huffington Post further toward embracing the “distributed content” philosophy being evangelized by the likes of BuzzFeed—that is, the strategy of publishing unique content on social media platforms. They still plan to maintain the Huffington Post’s distinctive brand and core audience, Ms. Huffington said.

“We’ve been expediting this transition to distributed content,” said Ms. Huffington. “And we’re a huge destination site still…with a very identified brand.”

Just prior to Ms. Heron’s arrival at Facebook, the company had launched Facebook Paper, a standalone news reading application that never really took off. But since then, Facebook’s importance to the digital publishing business—and its power to spread content—has only grown.

During Ms. Heron’s tenure the company introduced Facebook Instant Articles, which lets media companies publish content directly to Facebook users’ feeds.

Ms. Huffington said Ms. Heron’s experience working on that product provided her insight into Web publishing business models that will be crucial in her new role. “She’s been a driver of this transformation that is happening at all media companies,” Ms. Huffington said.

Write to Mike Shields at mike.shields@wsj.com

Featured Story:The Wall Street Journal

 

Sonko Comes to the Rescue of Illing Mzee Ojwang’ ”Hatari”

#OkoaMzeeOjwang

Vitimbi Actor Mzee Kajwang’|Photo credit:KenyaMagazine.com

 Contrary to rumors peddled by bloggers and social media enthusiasts claiming that Mzee Ojwang’ (Benson Wanjau) was dead,it has now emerged the Vitimbi actor is alive although medically challenged.

The neglected Kajwang’ had been suffering from partial blindness silently until Vitimbi crew led by Mama Kayayi paid Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko a visit who then dispatched the Sonko Rescue Team which rushed Ojwang’ to Loresho Hospital to see an ophthalmologist.According to an update on Sonko’s social accounts,Mr. Ojwang’ is said to be in safe hands at the hospital.

Meanwhile,a hashtag #OkoaMzeeOjwang  has been trending on twitter today,with plans underway to aid Mzee Ojwang’.

Until his health deteriorated,Mzee Ojwang’ acted as husband to Mama Kayayi, and as a proprietor of a popular eatery on the local comedy show-Vitimbi.

 

Story by Jeremiah Wakaya

Senior Editor

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