Monica R. Richardson, 50

Executive editor, Miami Herald/el Nuevo Herald; Mcclatchy Florida regional editor Miami, Fla.

Monica R. Richardson is the first Black executive editor in the Miami Herald’s 117year history. She is a veteran of the news business, with expertise in metro reporting and a specialization in digital news.

Richardson is originally from Charlottesville, Va. and worked at the Charlottesville Observer, Florida Times-union, and Lexington (Ky.) Herald-leader over her nearly 30-year career. Before she joined the Herald in January, she spent the last 15 years at The Atlanta Journalconstitution, where she was the paper’s digital managing editor before her promotion in 2018 to senior managing editor.

What are you most excited about in the news industry today?

I am excited about the continued opportunity we have to build and cultivate relationships with new audiences, those we’ve lost and those we haven’t yet connected with as the ways in which people seek out news and information continues to shift. Our industry plays a critical role in shaping communities, and I am excited about the path to growth and sustainability in our industry. Without the vital source of local news, communities are deprived of an institution essential for exposing wrongdoing and encouraging civic engagement. I’m excited that every day we have a new chance to remain vital.

What is your advice for aspiring women journalists?

Stay true to yourself and your core values. Use your voice but also make room and space for other women to be heard and seen. Strive to lead outside your box, your boundaries, and your comfort zones. You get nowhere by sitting still and being silent. Remember that leadership is not about titles. Lead with vulnerability. Lead with intent. Lead with conviction. Get out of your own way. Create and enjoy rare moments. Learn, grow, evolve. Find and fulfill your purpose. Step through open doors then leave them open for others. Get a mentor and be a mentor. Be who you are, not who others want you to be. And, finally, let nothing and no one steal your joy.