Staff News From Audience

I'm beyond excited to announce that Nicole Stock is stepping into a new role as the California audience editor.

In this role, Nicole will shape the audience strategy for our California initiative, helping us connect with readers across the state and beyond. She'll lead rollout plans, identify opportunities for off-platform growth and bring sharp analytical insights to our coverage.

Previously on the Well desk, Nicole served as an audience editor tracking wellness trends and informing coverage strategy throughout the desk's expansion. As Lori Leibovich, editor of the desk, put it: "Since the moment Nicole arrived on Well, she has been our secret weapon - sharing insights, spotting trends and helping us deepen our relationship with our readers. But beyond her skills as a journalist, she is warm, hilarious, and kept us thoroughly entertained with hot takes and quick wit. She will be greatly missed."

Over the past few months , Nicole was on assignment reporting for the Styles desk from Los Angeles via the Newsroom Embed program, with standout stories on topics ranging from the so-called Gen Z stare, satirical National Park social media accounts and Gov. Gavin Newsom's attacks on President Trump.

Before joining The Times, Nicole was an audience editor at The Chicago Tribune, where she wrote the morning newsletter and covered mental health and Covid-19. She also contributed to reporting on deadly fires in Chicago that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2022. Nicole holds bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from Northwestern University and is a California native.

She'll report to me and work closely with Manny Fernandez and colleagues across the newsroom contributing to California coverage.

Please join me in congratulating Nicole on this exciting next step!

- Vic Niemeyer