Monica R. Richardson is an American newspaper editor. She is senior vice president of

USA Today ''USA Today'' (often stylized in all caps) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth in 1980 and launched on September 14, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headq ...

and previously was the first Black executive editor in the ''Miami Herald's'' history.

Personal and education

Richardson is from

Charlottesville, Virginia Charlottesville, colloquially known as C'ville, is an independent city (United States), independent city in Virginia, United States. It is the county seat, seat of government of Albemarle County, Virginia, Albemarle County, which surrounds the ...

. She graduated from

Old Dominion University Old Dominion University (ODU) is a Public university, public research university in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. Established in 1930 as the two-year Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary, it began by educating people with fewer ...

. She has served on nonprofit boards in Atlanta and advocates for foster care and adoption. 2014, she adopted a daughter as a single mother

Career and work

Richardson became

executive editor Executive ( exe., exec., execu.) may refer to: Role or title * Executive, a senior management role in an organization ** Chief executive officer (CEO), one of the highest-ranking corporate officers (executives) or administrators ** Executive dir ...

of ''

Miami Herald The ''Miami Herald'' is an American daily newspaper owned by McClatchy, The McClatchy Company and headquartered in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Founded in 1903, it is the fifth-largest newspaper in Florida, serving Miami-Dade, Broward County, Fl ...

'' on January 1, 2021. Her expertise includes nearly 30 years of journalism. Richardson worked for the '' Charlottesville Observer'', ''

The Florida Times-Union ''The Florida Times-Union'' is a daily newspaper in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. Widely known as the oldest newspaper in the state, it began publication as the ''Florida Union'' in 1864. Its current incarnation started in 1883, when t ...

'', and ''

Lexington Herald-Leader The ''Lexington Herald-Leader'' is a newspaper owned by the McClatchy Company and based in Lexington, Kentucky. According to the ''1999 Editor & Publisher International Yearbook'', the paid circulation of the ''Herald-Leader'' is the second larg ...

''. For 15 years, she wrote for the ''

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' (''AJC'') is an American daily newspaper based in metropolitan area of Atlanta, Georgia. It is the flagship publication of Cox Enterprises. The ''Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' is the result of the merger ...

'' where she served as the digital managing editor and then was promoted to senior managing editor in 2018. She served on journalist boards, including the Atlanta Press Club, the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists, Associated Press Media Editors and the Georgia APME. She also served as a juror for the national Pulitzer Prize board. In February 2024, Richardson was named senior vice president of USA Today.

Awards

She has been named one of the Atlanta Business League's Top 100 Women of Vision, the First but Not the Last, Women Leaders of South Florida, as well as the Editor and Publisher's Top Ten Women to Watch list. She has also received an Atlanta Diverse Professionals Award.

References

Living people 20th-century American newspaper editors African-American women journalists African-American journalists 21st-century American newspaper editors 21st-century American women journalists Editors of Florida newspapers Editors of Georgia (U.S. state) newspapers Editors of Virginia newspapers Writers from Charlottesville, Virginia Old Dominion University alumni 20th-century American women writers 20th-century African-American women writers 20th-century African-American writers 21st-century African-American women writers 21st-century American women writers 21st-century African-American writers 20th-century births Year of birth uncertain 20th-century American women journalists {{US-journalist-20thC-stub