Susan Goldberg

Susan Goldberg
Born	Michigan, US
Alma mater	Michigan State University
Occupation	Journalist & Media Executive
Title	President and CEO, WGBH Educational Foundation
Board member of	The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press National Museum for Women in the Arts
Spouse	Geoffrey Etnire

Susan Goldberg is a prominent American journalist and media executive, formerly serving as editor in chief of National Geographic Magazine. She currently holds the position of President and CEO at the WGBH Educational Foundation, recognized as the largest content provider for PBS. Prior to her tenure at National Geographic, Goldberg gained experience at Bloomberg and USA Today. She is a strong proponent of multimedia storytelling strategies.

Education

Raised in a Jewish household in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Goldberg’s passion for journalism emerged early in life. At age 20, she transitioned from an eight-week internship into a full-time reporter role at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, temporarily pausing her college studies to accept the position. She subsequently earned her Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Michigan State University in 1987. Demonstrating commitment to future journalists, Goldberg founded the Susan Goldberg Scholarship and participates on the Alumni Board for the College of Communication Arts and Sciences. In 2015, she was honored to deliver the commencement address at Michigan State.

Career

Goldberg began her professional journey at Michigan's Detroit Free Press, where she became the first female journalist assigned to cover Lansing, reporting on both the governor and state legislature while completing her degree at Michigan State University. She later joined California’s San Jose Mercury News as a reporter, contributing to its Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. In 1989, Goldberg moved to USA Today, where over a decade she worked across various sections including News, Life, and Enterprise, eventually rising to deputy managing editor.

Following the passing of her first husband in 1999, she returned to the San Jose Mercury News as managing editor. In 2007, Goldberg accepted a leadership role at Cleveland’s The Plain Dealer, expressing a deep connection to the city upon her departure.

In 2010, Bloomberg recruited Goldberg to serve as executive editor of its Washington Bureau, where her leadership style was noted for blending enthusiasm with patience. Between 2012 and 2013, she held the presidency of the American Society of News Editors, emphasizing mentorship and development of emerging journalism talent. In 2013, Washingtonian magazine recognized her among Washington’s 11 most influential women in media.

Goldberg concluded her role as editor in chief at National Geographic in 2022. Subsequently, she took on academic responsibilities as professor and vice dean at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Later that year, she was named president and CEO of WGBH, marking a milestone as the foundation’s first female leader.

National Geographic

National Geographic magazine, which debuted in October 1888, appointed Susan Goldberg as its 10th editor in 2014. She made history as both the first female and first Jewish editor-in-chief since the publication’s founding. During Goldberg’s tenure, the magazine earned a National Magazine Award for best website and received the George Polk Award for outstanding reporting. Additionally, she was honored with the 2015 Exceptional Woman in Publishing Award.

In January 2017, National Geographic published the "Gender Revolution" issue, which delved into gender topics through compelling photography and articulate narratives. This special edition was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize and attracted widespread media coverage, with Goldberg actively participating in discussions with the audience. The issue also secured the 2018 ASME Cover Contest accolades for Best News and Politics as well as Best Cover.

Goldberg was acknowledged by Washingtonian Magazine in 2017 as one of the most influential women in Washington. She held board memberships with The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the National Museum of Women in the Arts. In 2022, Goldberg concluded her role as editor-in-chief at National Geographic.

Personal life

Goldberg is married to Geoffrey Etnire, a lawyer specializing in real estate, and they live together in Washington, D.C.