Lenore Taylor Announces Departure from Guardian Australia
After 13 years in senior leadership roles, including a decade as editor, Lenore Taylor has decided to leave Guardian Australia. Taylor is widely regarded as one of Australia's most respected journalists, having been a founding senior staff member when the outlet launched in May 2013.
A Pioneering Career in Australian Journalism
As political editor, Taylor played a crucial role in Guardian Australia's early and ongoing success, bringing over 25 years of federal press gallery experience to the position. In 2014, she won one of Guardian Australia's first Walkley Awards and was recognised by her peers as the Australian Press Gallery Journalist of the Year. Her reputation as a leading political journalist was instrumental in forging Guardian Australia's standing as a newcomer in the Australian media landscape.
In May 2016, Taylor was appointed editor of Guardian Australia, becoming the first Australian to hold the role. Under her editorship, the edition expanded significantly, and Guardian Australia now ranks as the fourth most-read news site in the country.
Legacy of Editorial Excellence and Growth
Taylor's courageous editorial leadership, intellectual energy, and acute news judgment helped consolidate Guardian Australia's market position as a consistent news-breaker. The outlet has effected change through fact-driven investigations, incisive commentary, and analysis, while also providing smart coverage of culture, lifestyle, and sport.
During her tenure, Guardian Australia won numerous industry plaudits, including 12 Walkley Awards for reporting on the environment, politics, social affairs, Indigenous issues, and commentary. Her decade in charge spanned turbulent years in Australian politics and media, as well as the Covid-19 pandemic.
Taylor leaves Guardian Australia as the country's current longest-serving newspaper or news site editor and the longest-serving female lead editor in Australia.
Personal Reflections and Future Plans
In a statement, Lenore Taylor said, "I've been musing on this decision for some time. But there's always been another challenge, another big story or another reason to defer it. There's always the next thing in a job that is so utterly exhilarating and all-consuming. But it is also utterly exhausting. Ten years is a long time to work at this pace. It leaves little time to care for yourself or for those you love. So, for many reasons, I have decided it's time to pass the baton."
She added, "Leading Guardian Australia's coverage and nurturing and building such a brilliant and dedicated editorial team over the past 10 years has been an honour, a challenge and a lot of fun. I am so very proud of what we have achieved and the service we have provided to our readers."
Taylor noted that when she started as editor, feedback often included "thank goodness the Guardian has come to Australia," whereas now, she hears "I can't imagine Australia without the Guardian." She concluded, "Neither can I."
Leadership Transition and Ongoing Operations
Katharine Viner, the Guardian's editor-in-chief, praised Taylor's contributions, stating, "Lenore Taylor made Guardian Australia a force to be reckoned with, sometimes through sheer strength of will. Her hard work, commitment, editorial rigour and political insight have helped deliver journalism that sets the national agenda and driven much admiration from our ever-expanding audience."
Viner added that Taylor leaves Guardian Australia well-placed for its next stage of evolution and announced an open process to appoint a new editor. David Munk, currently a senior managing editor of the Guardian in London and previously deputy editor of Guardian Australia, will return to Sydney as acting editor.
The award-winning Guardian Australia continues to operate with editorial independence at its core, supported by excellent colleagues across editorial and commercial teams.
