Private Media has appointed Sophie Black as editor-in-chief of Crikey, four months after her predecessor went on leave following an alcohol-fuelled outburst at the Walkley journalism awards.

Black, a former senior editor at the company, returns to Private Media as it prepares to defend itself against defamation claims brought against Crikey by News Corp co-chairman Lachlan Murdoch. The website’s current news editor, Gina Rushton, will become Crikey’s editor.