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Terence Samuel, a veteran journalist, had been in the country for a year.
By Katie Robertson
Terence Samuel, editor-in-chief of USA Today, will step down after a year, the newsroom announced Monday.
Samuel, a veteran journalist, joined USA Today last July from National Public Radio, where he was one of the station’s most no-nonsense newsgathering executives. Neither Mr. Samuel nor the publication gave an explanation for the reason for his departure.
In an email to editors read by The New York Times, Monica Richardson, senior vice president of USA Today, said Samuel would be stepping down “effective today. “Caren Bohan, editor of the Politics section, will serve as interim editor while the publication conducts “a national search for our lead editor,” Richardson wrote in the email.
Samuel said in an interview Monday that his departure was “sudden” but that he may not know why he left the newspaper.
“I wish it had lasted a lot longer because it was a wonderful year,” Samuel said. “We’ve done wonderful things in this publishing workplace and I wish them the best. “
In a statement sent to The Times, Ms. Richardson declined to explain the change in leadership. “Terry Samuel has been a valued colleague during his tenure at USA Today,” he said. “We sincerely wish him the best and thank him for his contribution. “
Mr. Samuel has had a long career as a journalist, with stints at the Washington Post, The Root and The Philadelphia Inquirer, among others.
USA Today, launched in 1982, is owned by Gannett, the nation’s largest newspaper chain. Gannett has made major job cuts at its publications since it merged with the Gatehouse Media chain in 2019 as it struggled to control its debt, sparking protests from its unionized employees.
Katie Robertson covers the media for The Times. Email: katie. robertson@nytimes. com Learn more about Katie Robertson
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