Internal memo: Buzzy startup Axios just made a big newsroom hire as it aims for 200 in headcount this year
- Buzzy news startup Axios just named Sara Kehaulani Goo as executive editor, a new position, to help it with audience and audio expansion.
- Goo will also help oversee an expanding newsroom, which is hiring to grow its tech, business, and science coverage.
- In addition to audio, Axios is in talks to make another news show in addition to its just-renewed HBO series, a knowledgeable source said.
- Axios continues to prepare to launch a pricey paid subscription service aimed at big companies early next year.
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Axios made a big hire on the news side, naming Sara Kehaulani Goo as executive editor, a new position, to help with audience and audio expansion. She was hired away from NPR, where she was managing editor, overseeing its social media and audience development strategy.
Goo is set to start December 2 and report to Nicholas Johnston, Axios' editor in chief. In a memo, Johnston cited Goo's experience in audience and audio, two new focus areas. Axios has the Pro Rata podcast, covering the intersection of tech, business, and politics.
Johnston said he and Goo knew each other from The Washington Post, where they both worked as reporters. Johnston said he did his final interview with Goo at the Washington Nationals stadium at the Budweiser Brew House because it was the only time they could meet before sending out a final offer to her.
Goo will also help oversee Axios' expanding newsroom. It's hiring to expand its tech, business, and science coverage, and overall, the company is aiming to get to 200 people by the end of the year, up from 170 now.
In addition to audio, Axios is in talks to make another news show in additon to its just-renewed HBO series, a knowledgable source said. The source didn't say who Axios was talking to, but Axios' investors include WndrCo, the investment firm of Jeffrey Katzenberg, who also is hunting for news shows for his forthcoming short-form video service Quibi.
Axios also is preparing to launch a pricey paid subscription service aimed at big companies early next year.
Axios was launched in 2017 by Jim VandeHei, Roy Schwartz, and Mike Allen, who sought to take the rapid-fire reporting model they built at Politico for Beltway professionals and apply it to serve busy professionals with succinct newsletters, designed for mobile devices. They started it with $10 million in funding and have raised $30 million total from investors including Lerer Hippeau Ventures, Emerson Collective, Greycroft Partners, and WndrCo.
Here's Johnston's memo on Goo's hire: