Mic is adding more senior talent to its fast-growing digital newsroom, as it ramps up coverage ahead of the 2016 presidential elections.
The millennial-focused web publisher will add Celeste Katz, formerly of the New York Daily News, as a senior political reporter and Samhita Mukhopadhyay, the former executive editor of the feminist website Feministing.com, to spearhead coverage on issues of equality as the editorial director for Identities. Their recruitment comes just after Mic's hiring of chief strategy officer Cory Haik, who previously served as The Washington Post's executive director of emerging news products.
The new media company said in a statement it is looking to boost coverage of policy and identities in 2016, topics that are part of "Mic's DNA."
"Mic’s goal is to be smart, forward looking and innovative in coverage of these issues and which the company has shown consistent commitment to since its launch," the statement reads."
Mukhopadhyay will focus on issues of race, gender and sexuality in her new role. She has also previously worked for organizations such as the National Women’s Business Council and the American Civil Liberties Union. She will report to Mic executive editor Madhulika Sikka, who was herself hired in June.
“Mic has been at the forefront of reporting on the changing face of American society, topics of vital concern to the Mic audience of college-educated young people,” Sikka said. “Samhita’s depth of experience reporting on issues of race, gender and sexuality will be a major asset to Mic as we continue to grow our Identities desk.”
Katz will report on the 2016 elections -- focusing on the campaigns and issues that matter to the site's millennial-focused audience. She joins Mic after 15 years at The New York Daily News, where she covered city, state and national politics.
“Strong policy coverage is part of Mic’s DNA and something we’re ramping up ahead of next year’s presidential election,” Sikka said. “Celeste brings a relentless tenacity that will be invaluable in covering the key stories of the 2016 campaign.”
Both Mukhopadhyay and Katz will begin in their new roles in January and will be based in the company's New York office.
In August, Mic reported an average of 20 million monthly readers -- 73 percent of whom are younger than 35. The company estimates 85 percent of those millennials plan to vote in the 2016 election.
Also on HuffPost: