Facebook has hired veteran journalist Campbell Brown to lead its News Partnerships division.
Brown, a former CNN and NBC TV personality, will help Facebook work more efficiently with publishers and media companies that use Facebook for distribution.
“I will be working directly with our partners to help them understand how Facebook can expand the reach of their journalism, and contribute value to their businesses. That also means making sure there is ongoing feedback from publishers as Facebook develops new products and tools for news organizations,” Brown said in a Facebook post.
“Right now we are watching a massive transformation take place in the news business—both in the way people consume news and in the way reporters disseminate news. Facebook is a major part of this transformation. This change comes with enormous challenges for journalists but also with great opportunities. Being given the chance to work on these complex issues with an industry full of people I care so much about is thrilling for me.”
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The hiring comes after Facebook recently posted a job listing looking for an experienced news executive to serve as “a public-facing voice of Facebook and its role in the news ecosystem.”
Facebook is still feeling the sting of a recent backlash over fake news stories gaining considerable traction on its platform. The social media giant has pledged to help stem the tide of fake news and a switch up in its News Partnerships division may be designed toward that end.
According to the New York Times, Facebook does not intend for Brown to work as an editor in chief and won’t have her making editorial decisions regarding content. She will instead function as a liaison between Facebook and media companies.