UBC Graduate School of Journalism adjunct professor Rachel Nixon has been named the new director of Digital Media for CBC News.
“Rachel will have the responsibility for charting the overall strategic direction for CBC News’ digital media, unit-setting the right priorities, and overseeing the successful execution of the strategy,” said the interim publisher of CBC News, Jennifer McGuire, in a memo to CBC staff.
“Her background in strategic planning, development, and delivery of editorial content makes her the ideal candidate for this role. She will be an excellent addition to the CBC News management team.”
Prof. Nixon is an award-winning journalist, having spent nine years with the internationally acclaimed BBCNews.com in a number of increasingly senior positions. In 2007, she was named BBC World Service Editor of the Year for cross-platform editorial leadership.
In 2008, Prof Nixon became global news editor of NowPublic.com, the Vancouver-based participatory news network.
“Established media don’t have the monopoly on news anymore. It’s really important to involve the audience and to listen them, listen to their opinions on what is important,” she told CBCNews.ca, “and to use that to inform your own view of what is happening in the world. You can really get outside the traditional news agenda by taking a view of what the audience thinks.”
She will be moving to Toronto and will assume her new post with Canada’s public broadcaster on June 1. The former CBC News director of digital media, Jonathan Dube, left in August 2008 to become vice-president of ABCNews.com.
