The Austin American-Statesman has named Courtney Sebesta as its managing editor, and the former writer and editor will take on a new role in helping lead the news and digital direction of the 151-year-old Texas newspaper.
Sebesta will move into the position Dec. 5 after leaving her job as a director of digital optimization for the Gannett USA Today network.
After graduating with a journalism degree from the University of Texas, Sebesta joined the Statesman in 2002 and spent time in several editorial positions and as a feature and style writer.
She was promoted to digital editor in 2015, overseeing Statesman.com, Austin360.com and Hookem.com before taking a leadership position with Gatehouse Media while it owned the Statesman in 2018.
Sebesta was promoted to senior director of audience development for the network, a job she kept in 2019 under a new Statesman owner and with an appointment to become director of digital operations in the Sunbelt and Midwest regions for Gannett, which merged with Gatehouse to create the largest newspaper company in the country.
“I am honored to come back to the Austin American-Statesman and help lead the newsroom where I started my journalism career,” Sebesta said. “Our work should be impactful, holding those in power to account, and be a catalyst for change around the challenges we face as a community.”
Sebesta’s hiring comes after former Managing Editor Andy Alford left the Statesman in March to join The Texas Tribune.
Over those months, Texas politics and education editor Bob Gee filled the role as acting managing editor.
“I also must give a heartfelt thank-you to Bob Gee, who has served with great distinction as our interim managing editor,” Executive Editor Manny García said. “During this time, Bob has brought his trusted voice while helping to lead our most sensitive and critical projects.”
Gee will be leaving the Statesman on Nov. 11 after accepting the Texas bureau chief post at Axios.
“Courtney will focus on leading our top-line audience and subscription growth,” García said in a statement to staff members Tuesday. “She is a journalist who brings rigor, organizational skills, sense of urgency and creativity to her work.”
Andy Sevilla, currently an associate news editor, will take on added responsibilities to lead politics and education and oversee the editing teams for local government, business, technology, public safety and five community publications. He will begin his new role as deputy managing editor Nov. 14.
“I am deeply honored to help lead the talented journalists at the Statesman,” Sevilla said. “I am inspired by them and their incredible work day in and day out, and I hope to contribute to their top-notch reporting.”
Sevilla, who has a bachelor’s degree from Texas State University, joined the Statesman in March 2015 as a community news editor. He was promoted earlier this year to associate news editor and diversity, equity and inclusion training coordinator.
“Andy is a bilingual journalist who also leads our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts,” García said. “He brings a nuanced eye to news coverage, from a statewide perspective to local news.”
Sebesta will manage audience growth, sports, visuals and Austin360.
“With Courtney and Andy in their new roles, the Statesman is solidly positioned to thrive and grow in the years to come,” García said. “They are quality leaders and quality individuals.”
In an important newsroom promotion, Austin City Hall reporter Ryan Autullo is the Statesman’s new chief political reporter. Autullo, a veteran journalist, will lead coverage of Texas government and the governor. Autullo is a former sports reporter who has covered courts and is known for his source building and enterprise reporting.
“I am honored to be the American-Statesman’s next Texas chief political reporter,” Autullo said. “I will look to serve audiences in Austin and beyond by holding accountable the public officials that we as Texans have entrusted to care for the great people of this state.”
