Versha Sharma

Versha Sharma
A woman shown from the neck up looks off camera
Sharma at the International Journalism Festival in 2024
Bornc. 1986
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alma materCentenary College of Louisiana
Occupations
  • Journalist
  • Editor
Years active2009–present
EmployerTeen Vogue
TitleEditor in chief
AwardsEdward R. Murrow Award

Versha Rani Sharma (born c. 1986)[1] is an American journalist and editor. She is editor in chief of Teen Vogue. From 2015 to 2021 she was managing editor at NowThis, where she shared in a 2018 Edward R. Murrow Award for a documentary on Hurricane Maria's effects on Puerto Rico. She is on the board of the Online News Association.

Early life

Sharma was born and raised in Alexandria, Louisiana,[2][3] the daughter of Indian immigrants.[4] She attended Bolton High School, graduating in 2004,[5] then Centenary College of Louisiana in Shreveport, where she studied political science.[2] She graduated in 2008,[2] then worked on Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.[3]

Journalism career

Sharma began working in newsmedia as a writer and editor for Talking Points Memo[6] and MSNBC's Lean Forward.[3] She covered the 2012 United States presidential election for MSNBC's website.[4] In 2015, she became managing editor at NowThis,[4] where she shared in a 2018 Edward R. Murrow Award for her work on a documentary on Hurricane Maria's effects on Puerto Rico.[1] "Puerto Rico: After the Hurricane" won for Excellence in Video in the Large Digital News Organization division.[7]

In May 2021, she was named editor in chief of Teen Vogue.[1] In assuming the role at Condé Nast, Sharma was part of an increase in women's newsroom leadership; Adweek noted she was one of "a dozen women…named editors in chief at some of the most influential publishers in the world" in 2021.[8] CNN also noted her appointment as part of diversifying newsroom leadership that took place in 2021, as she became the first South Asian American to hold the role,[9] and additionally discussed the growing expectations for change to newsroom culture, beyond the new heads.[10] Sharma told CNN that concern for the state of her team was a management priority for her, saying, "I pride myself on being a leader with empathy. Despite the fact that our job is storytelling, a lot of newsroom leaders don't value that or prioritize that."[10]

Sharma is also a member of the board of the Online News Association.[4]

Personal life

Sharma has lived in New York since 2009.[4] She is married to journalist and author Casey Michel. They have a golden retriever named George.

References

  1. ^ a b c Robertson, Katie (May 10, 2021). "Teen Vogue has a new top editor". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Kennell, Tiana. "Versha Sharma, Centenary College alumna, named Teen Vogue top editor". The Times. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Kennell, Tiana. "Centenary College alum interviews President Obama". The Times. Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e "NowThis editor Versha Sharma to take over at Teen Vogue". AP NEWS. May 10, 2021. Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  5. ^ "Class of 2004". The Town Talk. May 20, 2004. p. 14. Archived from the original on January 9, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  6. ^ Bhattacharya, Shriya (May 11, 2022). "Teen Vogue's First Indian American Editor-In-Chief Versha Sharma is the Newest Role Model for Young South Asians Around the World". Brown Girl Magazine. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  7. ^ "2018 National Edward R. Murrow Award Winners". www.rtdna.org. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  8. ^ Stenberg, Mark (July 15, 2021). "Women Named Editor in Chief of a Major Newsroom in 2021". Adweek. Archived from the original on November 6, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  9. ^ "Who will lead America's newsrooms?". Poynter. May 11, 2021. Archived from the original on July 6, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  10. ^ a b Flynn, Kerry (August 17, 2021). "Newsroom leadership has never been this diverse, but that's not enough". CNN. Archived from the original on January 4, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2022.