Editor’s note: This article was written by outgoing managing editor Annika Sunkara. 

The Huntington News transitioned to its fall 2026 editorial board April 15, with 36 editors assuming their roles across 14 sections. Zoe MacDiarmid will serve atop the masthead as editor-in-chief. 

MacDiarmid was selected by The News’ staff, Board of Directors and outgoing senior staff members to lead the paper alongside managing editors Gitana Savage and Katarina Schmeiszer. MacDiarmid appointed Lily Cooper as editor-at-large. Together, the senior staff will head the editorial and managerial operations of the paper in its 100th year.  

“Being chosen to lead this newspaper is an honor,” MacDiarmid said. “The News has made me into the journalist and person I am today. I could not be more excited to work with such talented people and produce impactful journalism.”

As editor-in-chief, MacDiarmid will direct The News’ coverage across five news sections and edit hundreds of stories, videos and social media posts. She plans to increase publishing speeds, expand coverage of Northeastern’s satellite campuses and carry on the paper’s campaign to interview President Joseph E. Aoun. 

MacDiarmid is a rising fourth-year cell and molecular biology major from Maryland who served as a senior reporter during spring 2026. Previously, she was The News’ campus editor in 2025, leading coverage of the Trump administration’s impacts on Northeastern. MacDiarmid has received regional and national recognition for her reporting; she was awarded fifth place in the Associated Collegiate Press’ 2025 Reporter of the Year competition and third place for best news story at the 2026 New England Newspaper & Press Association’s Better Newspaper Competition.

Savage, a rising fourth-year journalism and media and screen studies combined major from New York, was re-elected as managing co-editor after serving in the role during spring 2026. Savage oversaw more than 110 editors and staff and helped execute The News’ centennial anniversary celebration in February. She previously served as city editor during fall 2025, where she expanded the section’s hyperlocal coverage.

“It’s been such a privilege to work alongside all the outgoing members of senior staff to produce high-quality journalism that serves the Northeastern community and beyond,” she said. “I cannot wait for the semester ahead and to continue to support all the editors and writers who make what we do possible.”

Savage is joined by Schmeiszer, a rising fourth-year journalism and political science combined major from New Jersey. Schmeiszer was a projects co-editor during the 2025-26 academic year, leading The News’ long-form and investigative reporting. She co-wrote a 5,000-word piece about The News’ 100-year history, and her research in Northeastern’s Archives has significantly expanded the paper’s institutional knowledge. As a managing co-editor, she’ll oversee more than 100 members of The News and direct day-to-day operations.

“I am honored to have been chosen to serve as a managing editor,” Schmeiszer said. “Student journalism is crucial for college students to get information about their school and Northeastern is no exception. I can’t wait to work with such a talented senior staff and I’m so excited to see what we will do as a team.”

Cooper, editor-at-large, is a rising fifth-year biochemistry and journalism double major from Winchester, England. The editor-at-large is appointed by the editor-in-chief to advise editorial decision making and provide additional support. When MacDiarmid was campus editor, Cooper worked under her as a deputy campus editor. Most recently, Cooper was campus editor during spring 2026 and led coverage of campus safety and the university’s administrative transparency.

“I am honored that Zoe decided to appoint me as editor-at-large,” Cooper said. “The News is such an important piece of Northeastern’s campus and contributing to the work that we do has been the most meaningful part of my college experience. I am so excited to continue working for this wonderful paper, alongside people whom I admire so much.”  

MacDiarmid, Schmeiszer and Cooper succeed three graduating senior staff: outgoing editor-in-chief Emily Spatz, managing editor Annika Sunkara and editor-at-large Alexis Algazy.

Spatz led The News during its 100-year anniversary and edited nearly 1,000 stories during her year-long term. Her rigorous editorial standards and fact-checking established a reputation of transparency and trust for the paper, building a closer relationship with readers. Sunkara expanded The News’ audience engagement by honing social media and video content, and Algazy developed its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Board.

“I feel incredibly lucky and grateful to have led such a talented group of people,” Spatz said. “The work we did this past year would not have been possible without our editors and staff, especially graduating managing editor Annika Sunkara, who went above and beyond to help bring my vision to life and keep the paper running. I am humbled by the dedication and commitment of our incoming masthead and excited to see what they do in the coming months.”

The new senior staff take the helm after a year of notable growth. The News published more than 980 stories from April 2025 to April 2026 in addition to thousands of photos, hundreds of social media posts and dozens of videos, designs and data visualizations. The paper tracked more than 819,000 stories read on its website and saw record social media engagement, nearly doubling its Instagram following. The paper’s staff grew to its highest number in recent history, with more and more students passionate about informing the Northeastern community. More than 70 staff writers, copy editors, designers, photographers and multimedia producers contributed to The News in the spring 2026 semester.     

Thirty-six editors across 14 sections will serve from April to December on The News’ fall 2026 editorial board.   

Fall 2026 masthead

Zoe MacDiarmid, Editor-in-Chief

Gitana Savage, Managing Editor 

Katarina Schmeiszer, Managing Editor

Lily Cooper, Editor-at-Large

Madison Evangelist, Campus Editor

Devyn Rudnick, City Editor

Elli Einset, Sports Editor

Janira Skrbkova, Lifestyle Editor

Ava Vitiello, Opinion Editor

Elsa O’Donnell, Projects Editor

Chloe Mondi, Projects Editor

Elizabeth Chalmers, Deputy Campus Editor

Daniela Rynott, Deputy Campus Editor

Blue Tiernan, Deputy Campus Editor

Laila Guzman Griffin, Deputy City Editor

Siera Qosaj, Deputy Sports Editor

Cassandra Joyce, Deputy Sports Editor

Jennie Koh, Deputy Lifestyle Editor

Heidi Ho, Deputy Lifestyle Editor

Phil Warren, Deputy Opinion Editor

Bowen Rivera, Copy Chief

Margot Murphy, Photo Editor

Evelynn Lin, Deputy Photo Editor

Nimo Ren, Deputy Photo Editor

Catherine Gore, Design Editor

Mary Dunn, Deputy Design Editor

Abdullah Ismail, Data Editor

Auden Oakes, Audiovisual Editor

Dylan Kim, Deputy Audiovisual Editor

Daniel Patchen, Social Media Editor

Catie Nippins, Social Media Editor

Yonatan Catran, Web Manager 

Nikolas Lyras, Business Manager

Sana Gandhi, Finance Manager

Sophia Bonanno, Advertising Manager

Annelise Dramm, Outreach Manager

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