Amanda Wilson appointed first woman editor of The Sydney Morning Herald in its 180 year history

Fairfax Media today announced the appointment of Amanda Wilson as editor of The Sydney Morning Herald – the first woman in the role in its 180 year history – effective immediately.

Wilson had been acting editor since the former Herald editor Peter Fray was appointed as the newspaper’s editor-in-chief in October 2010.

With over 30 years’ experience as a newspaper journalist working in Sydney, Melbourne, London, Hong Kong and Beijing, Wilson has held various senior positions at The Sydney Morning Herald since joining the paper in 1994.

Says Fairfax Media acting CEO Greg Hywood: “This is an important day for The Sydney Morning Herald  and Fairfax Media. Amanda will be the first female editor of this great newspaper in its 180 year history.  She is to be warmly congratulated on her achievement. I know from experience Amanda will bring great strength and insight to the role. She has the flair and focus required to deliver The Sydney Morning Herald of the future.”

The Sydney Morning Herald Publisher, Lloyd Whish-Wilson, said: “Amanda’s promotion to editor is the obvious next step for her and for The Sydney Morning Herald. Her flair, awareness, and balance have been significant contributors to the successes of the newspaper in recent years.”   

Editor-in-chief of The Sydney Morning Herald, Peter Fray, added: “Amanda is a great journalist, editor and colleague. She has enormous energy, drive and vision and I am delighted by her appointment, on a personal and professional level. I am looking forward to continuing our close and productive working relationship. This is a terrific moment in the life of the Herald, which celebrates its 180th anniversary in April this year.”

Wilson began her newspaper career in Melbourne as a cadet with News Ltd. She worked as a reporter on The Sunday Telegraph and The Australian in Melbourne and Sydney before moving to the UK in the early 1980s. In London she was assistant editor of the Sunday Express, and chief sub-editor of The Sunday Times.

She joined The Sydney Morning Herald as foreign editor, and since then her roles have also included deputy editor (sections and features), Saturday editor, Spectrum editor, features editor and news editor. Prior to her appointment as acting editor last October she had been the Herald’s deputy editor for two years.

 “I’m very proud to be working with many of the most talented media professionals in this country,” Wilson said. “The Herald has always stood for quality, independent journalism and I’m excited at being given this opportunity to uphold that tradition.

“I’m a firm believer in the cultural importance of newspapers, and am passionate about the role the Herald plays in delivering the best reporting, storytelling and analysis. The fact that we can now do this across a variety of platforms including print, online, tablet and mobile presents us with huge opportunities for the future,” Wilson said.