Sam Jacobs ‘04 Named Editor in Chief of TIME

On April 24, TIME CEO Jessica Sibley announced the appointment of RL alumnus Sam Jacobs, Class of 2004, to Editor in Chief of TIME. Sam has been a part of the global media brand for a decade, serving as a leader of the editorial team. Sam is the youngest editor to lead TIME since co-founder Henry Luce nearly a century ago.

In her announcement to staff, Ms. Sibley wrote:
“During his decade at TIME, Sam has been instrumental in setting the strategic direction of the editorial team and leading TIME’s trusted journalism across all platforms. In addition to hiring dozens of journalists around the world, he has played a major role in the integration of TIME’s newsroom across platforms—including expanding TIME’s global events, partnering with TIME Studios and building a sustainability platform with TIME CO2 which just launched with the TIME CO2 Earth Awards. Sam has guided the strategy for TIME’s digital editorial operation, which has won multiple Emmy and National Magazine Awards.

“Over the past 100 years, TIME has told the essential stories of the people and ideas that shape and improve the world. There is no better leader for guiding that mission today than Sam. As we begin TIME’s second century, we remain unwavering in our commitment to trusted journalism, which is at the core of our company’s impact.”

In a follow up note to staff, Sam wrote:
“As TIME journalists we are living an incredible present, and we inherit an invaluable past. We know that integrity and innovation are key features of that inheritance and necessary ingredients of our future. For the past decade, I have had the privilege of working with you through a period of unrivaled change. It’s been such a gift to watch people’s careers thrive and to welcome new ideas and new voices to TIME. I have seen hundreds of colleagues do amazing work in service of our readers and our world. I’ve watched new generations of reporters, editors, and producers be welcomed by their predecessors and together make a new TIME. I love how that process starts again each day.”

Read the announcement in its entirety on the TIME website.