Gay Alcorn named new editor of The Age

The Age has appointed Gay Alcorn as the masthead's first female editor in its 165-year history.

Alcorn, who is currently Melbourne editor at Guardian Australia, will replace acting editor Michelle Griffin who has been standing in since the departure of Alex Lavelle in June.

Gay Alcorn will commence her new role as editor of The Age on September 28.Credit: The Age

The appointment marks a return to the masthead for Alcorn, who spent 20 years in The Age's newsroom working in roles such as Washington correspondent, deputy editor and editor of The Sunday Age. In her time with the masthead, she won three Walkley Awards.

Alcorn said she was determined to continue to lead the masthead for Victorians, particularly through the coronavirus pandemic, the recovery and economic fallout.

"I worked at The Age for most of my career and I didn't have any expectation of returning when I left," she told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. "But to have the opportunity to lead the paper in what are really extraordinary times for the state, I just couldn't pass up that opportunity."

"I have been increasingly worried about media polarisation in recent years, that if we all just read and watch only what we agree with, it's bad for our democracy and debating and solving our real challenges. The Age strives for tough, fair journalism and presenting a whole range of views. That's a challenging place to be now in the media, but it's the most exciting part of the job for me."

Alcorn, who will be the first female editor of the masthead, will commence her new role on September 28.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't proud of it, I am proud and it's belated — it is 2020. Our female journalists can think no matter what I'm interested in, the opportunities are there," she said. "But I want to be a good editor of The Age, not a female editor first."

Alcorn is the permanent replacement for former editor Lavelle, who stepped down from the role in June after 3½ years and more than 20 years at the masthead.

Lavelle's exit came a week after 66 journalists sent a letter to company management expressing concerns about a story on the front page of the newspaper about a Black Lives Matter protest, diversity in the newsroom and their belief editorial leadership was too Sydney-centric.

The masthead apologised for the story, which had claimed police were preparing for protesters to spit on them, and said it fell short of the newspaper's editorial values and standards.

Group executive editor James Chessell said at the time he was angry about the errors, but refuted the suggestion editorial decisions at The Age were made in Sydney. He agreed that the newsroom needed to be more diverse and said initiatives to address this issue were being discussed. When Lavelle stepped down, Chessell said it would be wrong to draw a connection between his departure and the letter.

"I wasn't there at the time of the letter, but I do want to speak to people about whether those issues have been resolved and whether we need to do more to bring the staff together and what the strategy is and what the editorial mission is," Alcorn said.

"From what I gather, it has been a really exhausting time for all the staff at The Age and they work incredibly hard and incredibly well. If I could give them all a collective hug, I would, but it's impossible at the moment. I do feel a bit strange coming in as editor working from home. I can't see or speak to the staff face to face, so I think that'll be an extra challenge for me."

Chessell said Alcorn had a strong sense of what was important to Victorians.

"She is steeped in The Age’s proud history of agenda-setting, independent journalism and will be a strong leader of the newsroom in Melbourne," Chessell said. "Gay is an editor of substance who will inspire and lead a team of the most talented journalists in the country who have performed so admirably this year under immense pressure. I’m so delighted Gay has agreed to come home."