Former Post-Gazette editor Sally Stapleton now head of AP's global religion team

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Former Post-Gazette editor Sally Stapleton now head of AP's global religion team

Samson X Horne | Saturday, June 22, 2019 3:18 p.m.

Sally Stapleton poses in this undated photo. Stapleton, an award-winning editor, photojournalist and newsroom leader, has been tapped to direct global religion coverage for The Associated Press, overseeing a new team that will report on faith and its influence throughout the world. The appointment was announced Friday, June 21, 2019 by Sarah Nordgren, AP’s deputy managing editor for sports, business, entertainment, health, science and religion. (Sally Stapleton via AP)

Recently-departed Pittsburgh Post-Gazette managing editor Sally Stapleton has been chosen by the Associated Press to lead a new team to report on faith and its worldwide impact.

Stapleton, 61, left the PG in April, and it was reported that she was one of the employees in the newsroom during publisher John Robinson Block’s infamous tirade in February that further shook up an already waning morale at the paper.

AP credits her with spearheading the PG’s transformation into a digital-first operation.

The AP reports that Stapleton will oversee a team fueled by an almost $5 million grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. to the Religious News Foundation.

This has been quite the 12 hours. I heard from so many former and soon-to-be colleagues. I’m grateful for the sentiments and the opportunities to work together. There’s little that’s better than a good collaboration. @AP https://t.co/dXmk2ty57b

— Sally Stapleton (@sestapleton) June 22, 2019

AP says it will “work with Religion News Service and The Conversation to improve understanding of developments in the world of faith and analyze their significance.”

Stapleton has served on the board of directors for the Associated Press Media Editors organization for the past three years. From 1990 to 2004, she held various leadership positions for the AP’s photography team including, deputy executive photo editor, overseeing all aspects of the AP’s photo operation.

Stapleton also held photo and news graphics editor positions at The Boston Globe, the Miami Herald and the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

“Sally is the right kind of leader for this important launch of a new AP coverage team,” said Sarah Nordgren, AP’s deputy managing director for sports, business, entertainment, health, science and religion. “She has a record of producing top-level coverage on religion, and she understands how to produce and present great multi-format content for readers around the world.”

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