Peter Fray joins Crikey as editor-in-chief and managing editor

Media veteran Peter Fray joins Crikey as its new editor-in-chief and managing editor.

Media veteran Peter Fray is the new editor-in-chief and managing editor of Crikey. Picture: Hollie Adams

Eric Beecher's Private Media has tapped media veteran Peter Fray, as its new editor-in-chief and managing editor of Crikey.

Fray, who has worked across most of the nation's major newspapers including the Sydney Morning Herald, Canberra Times and The Australian, will oversee the editorial direction of the company’s three publications: Crikey, The Mandarin and SmartCompany.

The privately owned digital media company said on Monday that Mr Fray will take a “hands-on role in running the editorial operation, leading its reporters, writers and editors, and working closely with the publisher and commercial team” as managing editor of Crikey and INQ investigative unit.

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Chairman Beecher and Tamsin Creed, general manager and publisher, said they were “delighted” with the appointment of a seasoned journalist and editor.

“He is one of the outstanding editors of his generation, he is passionate about journalism and wants to play a big part in shaping its future,” the pair said in a joint statement.

Mr Fray, who is currently a journalism professor at UTS in Sydney, is looking forward to taking over, and making a “significant contribution to the growth of its titles, staff and financial success”.

“The health of a fiercely independent, home-grown news media is vital to Australia."

Fray, who is also the co-director of the Centre for Media Transition at UTS, will be based in Sydney and start officially in January, a company spokeswoman said.

During his career, Fray has been editor-in-chief of the SMH and the Sun-Herald, as well as editor of the Canberra Times and the Sunday Age and the deputy editor of The Australian. He also established Australia's first stand-alone fact-checking site, PolitiFact Australia, in 2013.