Title: Senior Director of Opinion and Engagement
Company: Gannett | USA TODAY NETWORK
Location: Pound Ridge, New York, United States
Edward J. Forbes, senior director, opinion and engagement at Gannett | USA TODAY NETWORK, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in journalism.
With nearly two and a half decades of experience, Mr. Forbes has built a distinguished career in journalism, specializing in political opinion. Since 2020, he has excelled as the senior director of opinion and engagement at Gannett | USA TODAY NETWORK, overseeing opinion reports and community engagement strategies for newsrooms across New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and New England. He manages a team of contributing writers for 45 publications in 10 states, supervises eight newspapers in New Jersey, and is responsible for coverage of state government, legislature, and governor. Prior to this, he was the senior director of news and engagement at North Jersey Media Group from 2018 to 2020 and senior director of breaking and local news from 2016 to 2018. His other roles include senior editor at Daily Record NJ from 2017 to 2020 and various positions at lohud.com and The Journal News. His earlier experience includes roles at the New York Post, Columbia University – Graduate School of Journalism, Lake Placid News, and Adirondack Daily Enterprise.
Additionally, Mr. Forbes has dedicated his time as a trustee at The Wild Center since 2023, chairman of the Landmarks and Historic District Preservation Commission, The Town of Pound Ridge since 2022, and executive committee member at North Country Public Radio since 2023. He has been a board member at Volunteer New York! since 2020, an advisory board member at The Wild Center from 2020 to 2023, and a commissioner at the Landmarks and Historic District Commission, The Town of Pound Ridge from 2020 to 2022. His prior roles include trustee at the Frederic Remington Art Museum from 2018 to the present, committee chair at the Westchester County Association from 2015 to 2018, and president of the alumni executive council at St. Lawrence University from 2014 to 2016. He also served as editor of The Hill News at St. Lawrence University and president of Omicron Delta Kappa’s Kalon-Kixioc Circle. His memberships include the Society of the Silurians, the Deadline Club, the Society of Professional Journalists, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Thelomathesian Society. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in English, history, and Canadian studies from St. Lawrence University in 2002 and a Master of Science in journalism from Columbia University – Graduate School of Journalism in 2008.
In light of his impressive achievements, Mr. Forbes received the St. Lawrence University Alumni Citation in 2019 and the Ken Polk ’91 Award from the St. Lawrence University Alumni Executive Council in 2018. He was also honored with the Society of the Silurians Excellence in Journalism Award in 2017 and 2018, recognized by Leadership Westchester as a Rising Star: 40 under 40 in 2013, and received the University’s Leadership Honorary from St. Lawrence University. He attributes his success to his passion for journalism and its role in strengthening and safeguarding the community. Looking ahead, he aspires to become an executive editor of a news operation in the greater New York area. In advising future professionals, he emphasizes that the work journalists do is essential for storytelling and illuminating dark places, even amid ongoing industry upheavals and the digital transition. He finds inspiration in this crucial role and hopes the next generation of journalists will share his commitment and inspiration.
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