New York, NY (October 21, 2015) – The World Policy Institute (WPI) announced today the appointment of former Al Jazeera America Digital News Editor Christopher Shay as Editor of World Policy Journal. Prior to his role at Al Jazeera America, Shay served as Managing Editor of the Journal for two years. David A. Andelman, who has held the position of Editor of the Journal for nearly eight years, will assume the role of Editor Emeritus, where he will continue to draw from his storied journalistic career in an advisory capacity. The announcement comes as the Journal enters its 33rd year of publication, during which time it has become a trusted source of independent and fresh arguments that challenge conventional wisdom on global affairs. 
“With the momentum we’ve gained in the past two years, and now with the addition of Christopher, we have a rare opportunity to build on the excellent work of David and his team, and to bring a new voice to the top tier of international policy reporting, cementing World Policy Journal’s position as a leading authority on a host of pressing global issues,” said Joseph A. Cari, Jr., Chairman of the World Policy Institute Board of Directors.
World Policy Journal injects new ideas and fresh global perspectives into public debates around the world’s most pressing challenges. It prioritizes the inclusion of voices from outside the United States, providing a steady counterpoint to the standard U.S.- and Western-centric discourses. In doing so, the Journal has broken critical stories, from the illicit sale of blood diamonds in Europe to a Ponzi scheme in Africa. Over the past two years, an investment in its digital presence and pivot toward interactive journalism has yielded a threefold increase in audience, as well as new media partnerships with Liberation, The Economist, and the Open Society Initiative for West Africa. It has also led to the launch of two popular podcasts, World Policy on Air and Africa Investigates, which delve into some of the Journal’s most influential and complex reportage.
Shay will oversee all editorial content, including World Policy Journal, worldpolicy.org, and World Policy On Air, and manage the magazine’s NY headquarters and network of journalists around the world. As Editor Emeritus and a member of the magazine’s Editorial Board, Andelman will continue to draw from his rich career at The New York Times, CBS News, Bloomberg, and Forbes, advising the new team as they shepherd the Journal into its next phase of growth.
“This is a homecoming for me. Having served as Managing Editor under David’s leadership for two years, World Policy Journal’s incisiveness and global voice are part of my DNA. I am tremendously honored to be charged with growing the incredibly talented team that David has built,” Shay said. “It is an exciting organization at a pivotal juncture, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute to the Institute and Journal’s efforts to radically redefine the tone, tenor, and face of global policy conversations.”
Shay has built a reputation as a leader in global media and journalism, having served as a Princeton-in-Asia Fellow for the Phnom Penh Post, reporter for TIME Asia, and freelance writer and photographer to a range of publications including The Wall Street Journal and the Far Eastern Economic Review. He has been recognized by the Society of Publishers in Asia with a 2009 Award for Excellence in Human Rights Reporting for his work covering the trafficking of Cambodian men onto Thai fishing boats and was part of the Al Jazeera America team that won a 2015 Cablefax Award for Editorial Excellence.
For additional information, please contact:
Yaffa Fredrick | Director of Communications, World Policy Institute | fredrick@worldpolicy.org
