Scottish Sun editor Gill Smith named editor of The US Sun

Gill Smith, who has edited The Scottish Sun for five years, will become the next editor of The US Sun and will move to New York in the new year.

She takes over from Natalie Evans, who had run the paper’s US digital operation since it launched in February 2020. Evans has moved to Ladbible Group as a managing director.

Smith will lead a fresh drive into video in the US newsroom, following The Sun’s approach in the UK, where video now brings in a large share of its audience.

The Sun’s editor-in-chief, Victoria Newton, said Smith “brings a wealth of experience at a time when American politics continues to drive the global news agenda.” She said Smith leaves the Scottish edition “in brilliant health”, having won Newsbrand of the Year among other honours at the Scottish Press Awards.

Smith has worked at The Scottish Sun for 17 years, as features editor, head of news, assistant editor, head of content and deputy editor before becoming editor. She also worked at the New York Post on secondment after the 9/11 attacks.

She said running the Scottish title had been a “huge privilege” but that it was “time for a new challenge”.

“The opportunity to lead the US team, building a new emphasis on video that brings our trustworthy journalism to life and deepens our connection with audiences in America, in The Sun’s trademark style, is incredibly exciting,” she said.

Similarweb data shows The US Sun was the 34th largest news site in the US in October, with 26 million visits, up 15% on the previous year and 29% on the month before.