AP names James Jordan as deputy news director for Europe

James Jordan

The Associated Press has named a senior news leader who has led coverage across Europe and around the world as its deputy director for newsgathering in Europe.

James Jordan, currently an executive producer for global video at AP, will start his new role in September. His appointment was announced by Anna Johnson, AP's Europe-Africa news director.

As deputy news director, Jordan will be responsible for driving the news report in video, photos and text across Europe to deliver richly reported and visually compelling stories to AP's customers around the world. He will work closely with AP's team of field journalists, as well as producers and editors, in more than dozen bureaus from Paris to Istanbul to Moscow. Jordan will be based in London, home of the region's editing desks and international video news operation.

Jordan joined AP in 2016 as an executive producer overseeing the news agency's global video report, including live video. He has played key roles in top stories including the Westminster and London Bridge attacks in 2017, the Manchester concert bombing that same year, the conflicts in Iraq and Syria and the ongoing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

"James is an exceptionally talented news leader who has deep knowledge of the stories and issues facing Europe at a critical time," Johnson said. "His ability to drive ambitious journalism coupled with his understanding of customer needs will be crucial to guiding our coverage throughout the continent."

Prior to joining AP, Jordan worked at ITV News, where he held a variety of roles including overseeing newsgathering in the United Kingdom, including ITN's coverage of the Brexit referendum in 2016. He also led other top stories throughout Europe and beyond, including the 2015 attacks in Paris, the 2015 attack on the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and the Islamic State's advance across Syria and Iraq in 2014. He also planned and produced an exclusive interview with Pope Francis in April 2014.

Jordan has also held leadership roles at NewsCore and Sky News. He started his journalism career as a newspaper reporter at the Evening Chronicle in Newcastle and received his bachelor's degree in English literature and language from Newcastle University.