Lenore Taylor resigns after a decade in the role
Updated ,first published
Guardian Australia Editor Lenore Taylor has resigned after almost 10 years in the role, saying she is at peace with her decision to step down from the grueling role and leaves behind a team of highly qualified potential successors.
The publication notified staff of Taylor’s decision via email globally on Tuesday. Guard boss Katharine Viner launched an internal and external race for the editorship on Wednesday when she flew to Sydney for the departing editor’s final day in the newsroom.
Taylor’s departure means: Guard Barely anyone from the original line-up, which brought the left-wing publication to Australia in 2013 as part of a wave of free online-only media that also included local editions. Deputy And BuzzFeed News.
However, where these publications decrease, Guard Under Taylor’s direction, we created a free content model with a soft paywall that solicits donations.
“I’ve been thinking about this for a while, but there was always a new challenge, story, or reason that needed to be postponed,” Taylor said. “But after 10 years, the job becomes very tiring. There is not much time left for yourself and your loved ones.”
“It’s time to pass the baton and I have a great team so they have options too [for my successor].”
“I feel very at peace with this decision.”
Taylor was one of the founders Guard employee When it was launched in Australia in 2013 and won the Walkley award for broadcast political correspondent the following year. He has been editor of the book since 2016, making Taylor the longest-serving current editor in Australian media.
Guard Editor-in-chief Viner is visiting Australia and will conduct a process to select Taylor’s replacement. David Munk, Guard The senior managing editor in London will return to Australia as acting editor. He previously worked in the newsroom in Sydney.
In an email to staff, Viner praised Taylor’s tenure, saying he had made the Australian outpost a force to be reckoned with “sometimes through sheer force of will”.
“His hard work, dedication, editorial rigor and political insight have helped deliver journalism that sets the national agenda and is widely admired by our ever-expanding audience.”
“I want to thank Lenore for her tremendous contributions. Guardian Australia in the last 13 years.”
Early in his career, Taylor was the chief political correspondent for the United States. Sydney Morning Herald. He is expected to take a few months off after leaving Guard.
Taylor told this imprint in 2025 that he was still happy with the role and that there was “more work to be done here”, but there had been speculation for some time that he would step down.
While Taylor’s resignation was expected given the length of his tenure, some noted the speed between the announcement of Taylor’s departure and his departure on Tuesday evening.
Guard’Australian assistant editors Gabrielle Jackson and Patrick Keneally are seen as potential successors, as is head of multimedia Bridie Jabour. Munk is also being considered as a potential candidate, but this would mean a return to a British editor. Former deputy editor Lee Glendinning, now head of digital and national news at the ABC, is another name staff have discussed.
Keneally is not expected to apply while Jabour heads to London for a two-year secondment. Guard staff had previously said that this imprint could be a start to getting the best job locally.
In the past year, Taylor has had to deal with high staff turnover and bullying complaints that led to an HR investigation at the publication’s Canberra office.
It then took almost six months for the outlet to appoint the former official. Australian Financial Review journalist Tom McIlroy has been appointed as its new political editor, having joined as chief political correspondent just months earlier.
Guard’Its 2025 annual report said $50 million in revenue was generated in Australia and New Zealand during the financial year, a marginal increase on the previous year, with the help of 158,000 repeat digital supporters.
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Calum Jaspan is a media writer for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, based in Melbourne. Reach him securely on Signal @calumjaspan.10Connect with: X or email.
Nick Bonyhady is the business editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. He is a former deputy federal editor, technology editor and industrial relations correspondent.Connect with: X or email.
