Top News SEOs & Audience Growth Experts to Follow in 2026
News SEO experts worldwide: a directory of the people shaping publisher search
News SEO has become one of the most specialized areas of search. Ranking breaking news, holding position in Top Stories and Discover, surviving core updates, running SEO across a platform with millions of URLs, and now adapting to AI Overviews and LLM-driven discovery take a different skill set from the rest of SEO, and a different temperament. Most of the people who have that skill set have never been listed in one place.
Many of them do not have "News SEO" in their title. They lead audience development at a national publisher, run the SEO desk inside a newsroom, advise publishers as consultants or through agencies, build the tools and datasets the rest of us rely on, or produce the research we all quote. This directory brings them together: practitioners from publishers, agencies, consultancies, technology companies and universities across North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific.
This is not a ranking
Nobody is number one on this page. Profiles are displayed alphabetically by surname by default, and their position carries no meaning. An SEO editor working inside a regional newsroom and a consultant advising national publishers are solving many of the same problems from very different seats. Ranking them against each other would say more about the person creating the ranking than about their work.
How people were selected
To be included, a person needs a meaningful connection to news or editorial publishing, plus a visible contribution to the wider industry. A senior SEO title on its own is not enough. Signals include newsroom and publisher roles, consulting work, demonstrated expertise in Google News, Top Stories, Discover, technical SEO, audience development or AI search, public speaking, published research, training, community participation, and building tools or datasets used by publishers.
Titles and affiliations were checked against public profiles, speaker pages, author bios and other public sources as of September 2026. Consultants are listed with relevant newsroom or publisher history when it helps explain their expertise.
What is missing, and why
Plenty of excellent News SEOs work entirely inside their organizations and rarely speak, publish or participate publicly. They may not appear here. That is a limitation of the methodology, not a judgment on their expertise.
If you know someone who meets the criteria above and is not listed, or if you meet them yourself, please recommend them using this Google form. The directory is updated regularly.
Use the filters below to explore by country, language, company, specialization and role type.
Barry Adams
Polemic Digital
Profile
Specialist SEO and audience-growth consultant focused on news publishers. Advises major international publishers on Google News, Top Stories, Discover, technical SEO and newsroom search strategy.
Based Northern IrelandLanguages EnglishNESS speaker All years
Community · Co-founder of NESS · SEO for Google News newsletter · NRC 2025 speaker · BrightonSEO, SMX and Pubcon speaker
Nicola Agius
Reach plc
Profile
Director of SEO and Discover at Reach plc; former Search Engine Land journalist and former SEO Director at Jungle Creations. Works on Discover and search strategy across regional and national titles.
Based United KingdomLanguages EnglishNESS speaker 2026
Community · NESS 2026 Discover session · Former Search Engine Land reporter · Co-author of Mastering In-House SEO
Damien Andell
1492.vision
Profile
Co-founder of 1492.vision. Researches Google Discover through large-scale datasets, reverse-engineering and experimentation for publishers.
Based JapanLanguages French, English
Community · French SEO conference speaker · Publishes Discover research
Vahe Arabian
State of Digital Publishing / SODP Media
Profile
Founder and Editor in Chief of State of Digital Publishing and founder of SODP Media. Focuses on digital-publisher audience development, research and sustainable publishing models.
Based AustraliaLanguages English
Community · Publisher research and interviews · State of Digital Publishing community · Industry education
Loren Baker
Search Engine Journal; Foundation Digital
Profile
Founder of Search Engine Journal and founder of Foundation Digital. Long-standing search publisher and commentator with regular coverage of publisher SEO, search platforms and AI search.
Based United StatesLanguages English
Community · Search Engine Journal founder · Podcast and webinars · Conference speaker
Justin Bank
The Independent Journalism Atlas / Better Media Studios
Profile
Co-founder of The Independent Journalism Atlas and principal at Better Media Studios. Former Managing Editor for Audience and Visual Journalism at The Washington Post, Senior Director of Digital Strategy at NPR, and Senior Audience Director at The New York Times. Became the first SEO editor in Washington Post history in 2010.
Based United StatesLanguages English
Community · International Journalism Festival speaker · Research on creator journalism and local-news economics · Writes Inputs and Outputs
Alli Berry
MarketWise
Profile
SEO & Social Media Director at MarketWise. Leads organic growth for financial-publishing and investing-news properties, including launching new editorial experiences into competitive search markets.
Based United StatesLanguages English
Community · Search Engine Land and Search Engine Journal contributor · Moz contributor and podcast guest · Publishes finance-publishing SEO case studies
Shelby Blackley
The Athletic; WTF is SEO?
Profile
Manager, Newsroom SEO at The Athletic and co-founder of WTF is SEO?. Formerly at The Globe and Mail, Mashable and Indiegraf. Focuses on newsroom SEO practice, training and audience growth.
Based CanadaLanguages English
Community · Co-founder of WTF is SEO? · ONA speaker · Runs community calls
Matthew Brown
Brownstone SEO
Profile
Principal SEO consultant and founder of Brownstone SEO; former Moz executive. Works on enterprise technical SEO, publisher growth, site architecture and Discover.
Based United StatesLanguages English
Community · MozCon and SearchLove speaker · Moz Blog contributor · SMX panelist
Claudio E. Cabrera
The Athletic / The New York Times
Profile
Vice President, Newsroom Strategy and Audience at The Athletic; previously Deputy Audience Director, News SEO at The New York Times. Leads newsroom audience strategy, search, editorial workflows and audience development.
Based United StatesLanguages English, SpanishNESS speaker 2023, 2026
Community · NESS speaker multiple years · SEOday speaker · Writes on newsroom and audience strategy · Mentors news SEOs
Marlon Câmara
Editora Globo
Profile
Digital content, SEO and growth leader at Editora Globo. Works on audience strategy and sustainable digital growth across major Brazilian publishing brands.
Based BrazilLanguages Portuguese, English
Community · Active in news SEO events · Public publisher-growth commentary
Marc Choquette
Boston Globe Media
Profile
News SEO and audience leader at Boston Globe Media. Works across The Boston Globe and STAT on search growth, topical authority, local-news strategy and subscription acquisition.
Based United StatesLanguages English
Community · Publishes transparent Boston Globe and STAT search-growth case studies
Harry Clarkson-Bennett
DJB Strategies / Tomorrow Consulting
Profile
Publisher and audience consultant; Partner, Audiences & Product at DJB Strategies and former SEO Director at The Telegraph. Focuses on subscription publishers, newsroom strategy and AI-search impact.
Based United KingdomLanguages EnglishNESS speaker 2026
Community · Leadership in SEO newsletter · NESS 2026 speaker · BrightonSEO speaker
Virginie Clève
Largow
Profile
Media SEO consultant and founder of Largow; former digital-marketing and new-media leader at Radio France. Leads GESTE's SEO working group for French digital publishers.
Based FranceLanguages French, EnglishNESS speaker 2026
Community · NESS 2026 speaker · French SEO conference speaker · GESTE SEO working-group lead · Media SEO educator
Mike Cook
News Corp Australia
Profile
Head of SEO & Emerging Platforms at News Corp Australia. Leads search and generative-search strategy across major publisher brands including news.com.au.
Based AustraliaLanguages English
Community · Industry podcast and event appearances · Public commentary on AI and publisher search
Jens Fauldrath
get:traction
Profile
Managing director of get:traction; former SEO team lead at Deutsche Telekom who built the t-online.de SEO team. Specializes in publisher reach, Google Discover and search strategy.
Based GermanyLanguages German
Community · NRC 2025 workshop · SEOHouse podcast · Chairs BVDW search group · SMX Munich speaker
Will Flannigan
The Wall Street Journal / Dow Jones
Profile
Senior Director of SEO at The Wall Street Journal / Dow Jones. Works on newsroom organic growth, publisher search strategy and AI-era visibility.
Based United StatesLanguages English
Community · BrightonSEO and NESS speaker · Writes and comments publicly on journalism SEO
Louisa Frahm
Frahm Focus
Profile
News SEO consultant and educator; former SEO Director at ESPN and earlier SEO Editor at the Los Angeles Times and Entertainment Weekly. Works across sports, entertainment and news search strategy.
Based United StatesLanguages English
Community · Search Engine Land author on news and AI search · USC Annenberg adjunct · Conference speaker
Glenn Gabe
G-Squared Interactive
Profile
SEO consultant and founder of G-Squared Interactive. Known for deep analysis of Google algorithm updates, quality systems, Google Discover and visibility changes affecting large content and publisher sites.
Based United StatesLanguages EnglishNESS speaker 2026
Community · NESS 2026 speaker · Publishes extensive Google update and Discover analysis · Major industry conference speaker
Alessandro Giagnoli
Repubblica.it / GEDI
Profile
SEO manager working on Google Search, News and Discover for Repubblica.it / GEDI. Focuses on publisher search, Discover and subscription visibility.
Based ItalyLanguages Italian, English
Community · Runs EditoreInformato.it · Trainer at Italian web-marketing events
Valérie Glutz
blue News (Blue Entertainment AG)
Profile
Head of SEO, Analytics and Verticals at blue News; formerly at Blick. Works on multilingual newsroom SEO, analytics and AI integration.
Based SwitzerlandLanguages German, French
Community · NRC 2025 speaker
Calle Godani
Bonnier News
Profile
Head of SEO at Bonnier News. Leads newsroom search workflows and publisher audience growth across one of the Nordics' largest media groups.
Based SwedenLanguages Swedish, English
Community · Speaker at Nordic search events
Vivienne Goizet
BILD / Axel Springer
Profile
Editorial SEO leader at BILD / Axel Springer, now also working on AI projects; formerly at Ippen Digital. Focuses on Discover, publisher SEO and newsroom AI.
Based GermanyLanguages German, EnglishNESS speaker 2024, 2026
Community · NESS 2024 and 2026 speaker · NRC 2025 speaker · Writes on Discover, publisher SEO and newsroom AI
Megan Harney
NBCUniversal
Profile
Audience development and SEO leader at NBCUniversal. Focuses on editorial strategy, organic growth, CRM, content performance and audience development across major entertainment and media properties.
Based United StatesLanguages English
Community · NESS speaker · Journalism SEO workshops · News SEO community contributor
Jon Henshaw
Yahoo
Profile
Director of Audience Management, Global News and Platform at Yahoo; founder of Coywolf. Previously led SEO at major media and technology companies including CNET, Vimeo and Paramount streaming properties.
Based United StatesLanguages English
Community · Coywolf news and analysis · Conference speaker
Rachel Heseltine
Independent; formerly Paramount Skydance / CBS Digital
Profile
Enterprise and news SEO leader; most recently VP of SEO at CBS Digital / Paramount Skydance. Long-time broadcaster and entertainment-media SEO practitioner.
Based United StatesLanguages EnglishNESS speaker 2025
Community · NESS 2025 career panel · Conference speaker
Edward Hyatt
The Wall Street Journal / Dow Jones
Profile
News SEO leader at The Wall Street Journal / Dow Jones. Focuses on subscription news SEO, paywalls, technical search and AI search.
Based United StatesLanguages EnglishNESS speaker 2024, 2026
Community · NESS 2024 and 2026 speaker · Speaks on paywalls and AI search
Gabriella Iannetta
Realtor.com (News & Insights)
Profile
Audience development, SEO, editorial AI and content-strategy specialist at Realtor.com News & Insights; previously worked across major news and lifestyle publishers.
Based United StatesLanguages English
Community · NRC 2025 speaker · Public commentary on newsroom SEO and AI
Greg Jarboe
SEO-PR
Profile
Co-founder of SEO-PR and long-standing search, news and video educator. Known for work connecting search optimization, PR, YouTube and news discovery.
Based United StatesLanguages English
Community · Long-standing industry author · Conference speaker · Search and video educator
Ryan Kellett
The Independent Journalism Atlas
Profile
Co-founder of The Independent Journalism Atlas; ethical AI consultant, Harvard Berkman Klein Center affiliate and Harvard Extension School instructor. Former VP Audience at Axios and senior audience leader at The Washington Post.
Based United StatesLanguages EnglishNESS speaker 2024
Community · NESS 2024 speaker · Harvard instructor · Berkman Klein affiliate · Co-founder of Going Solo
Gerard Kijlstra
Newsifier
Profile
Founder and CEO of Newsifier and former publisher. Builds a publisher-focused CMS and analytics platform with a strong emphasis on SEO and Google Discover.
Based Netherlands, SpainLanguages English, Dutch
Community · Publisher webinars · Public Discover research and case studies
Topher Kohan
Independent; formerly Paramount
Profile
Enterprise news SEO consultant with former search leadership roles at CNN Digital, The Weather Company and Paramount. Focuses on complex media and publisher search environments.
Based United StatesLanguages English
Community · Active contributor to publisher SEO discussion
Oleg Korneitchouk
UpDigital Inc.
Profile
Publisher and digital-growth consultant at UpDigital. Focuses on audience diversification, CRO, subscriptions and sustainable publisher growth.
Based United StatesLanguages English
Community · WTF is SEO? Ask a News SEO guest · Active publisher-growth commentator
Sabine Langmann
NDR / tagesschau.de
Profile
SEO manager working on technical SEO transformation across NDR / ARD properties, including public-service news publishing.
Based GermanyLanguages German
Community · NRC 2025 workshop lead · Speaker and lecturer
Christine Liang
The New York Times
Profile
Senior Director, AI & Off-Platform Discovery at The New York Times; formerly led technical SEO. Works on technical search, off-platform discovery and AI-era visibility.
Based United StatesLanguages EnglishNESS speaker 2021
Community · NESS 2021 technical SEO speaker
Sarah Marshall
Condé Nast
Profile
VP Audience Strategy at Condé Nast; formerly at The Wall Street Journal and Journalism.co.uk. Leads global audience growth across magazine and news brands.
Based United KingdomLanguages EnglishNESS speaker 2026
Community · NESS 2026 panelist · Long-standing journalism and audience educator · Former Journalism.co.uk journalist
Mateusz Mikoś
FratreSEO
Profile
Co-founder of FratreSEO and technical SEO consultant with experience in media and publishing. Works on complex technical SEO and publisher visibility in Poland.
Based PolandLanguages Polish, English
Community · Polish SEO conference speaker · Publishes technical SEO analysis
Richard Nazarewicz
BBC Studios
Profile
Global SEO & Discovery Lead at BBC Studios; former SEO leader at The Wall Street Journal. Brings newsroom SEO into product, technical and discovery roadmaps.
Based United StatesLanguages English, SpanishNESS speaker 2023
Community · NESS 2023 speaker · Writes on SEO leadership and product
Brendan O'Connell
New York Post
Profile
Technical and news SEO leader at the New York Post. Works on high-velocity tabloid news, audience development, platform changes and AI search.
Based United StatesLanguages EnglishNESS speaker 2024
Community · NESS 2024 speaker · Public commentary on AI and news SEO
Laura Oelker
DIE ZEIT / ZEIT ONLINE
Profile
Leads editorial SEO work at DIE ZEIT / ZEIT ONLINE. Focuses on integrating search into newsroom workflows, editorial planning and training.
Based GermanyLanguages German
Community · NRC 2025 speaker · Newsroom SEO trainer
Binti Pawa
Independent
Profile
Organic-search and publishing consultant with experience across major digital publishers. Focuses on editorial growth, Discover, technical performance and AI-era search.
Based United StatesLanguages English
Community · BrightonSEO speaker · Digital Content Next contributor · Publishing panels
Valentin Pletzer
Ippen Digital
Profile
Technical and news SEO specialist at Ippen Digital. Works across regional and national news properties, newsroom automation and technical search tooling.
Based GermanyLanguages German, EnglishNESS speaker 2026
Community · NESS 2026 speaker · Builds open and free SEO tooling · German SEO conference speaker
Brian Provost
Yahoo
Profile
SVP & GM, Search at Yahoo; long-time enterprise search and audience executive with earlier leadership across large media and publishing organizations.
Based United StatesLanguages EnglishNESS speaker 2026
Community · Author of The Publisher's Guide to Enterprise News SEO · NESS 2026 keynote
Lily Ray
Algorythmic / Amsive
Profile
Founder of Algorythmic and VP, SEO & AI Search at Amsive. Known for publisher SEO, E-E-A-T, Google Discover research, algorithm analysis and AI-search visibility.
Based United StatesLanguages EnglishNESS speaker 2023, 2024
Community · Repeat NESS speaker · Global conference speaker · Research reports · Major public search commentary
Ryan Restivo
YESEO
Profile
Founder of YESEO, a newsroom-focused SEO workflow tool built to help journalists and editors improve search optimization inside editorial processes.
Based United StatesLanguages English
Community · News SEO product builder · Publisher and newsroom SEO educator
Aimie Rigas
Nine Publishing
Profile
Director of audience growth at Nine Publishing. Leads audience-development strategy across major Australian publishing brands including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and AFR.
Based AustraliaLanguages English
Community · Industry panels and publisher-audience commentary
Leonie Roderick
The i Paper
Profile
Deputy digital director at The i Paper. Works on audience development, subscriptions and digital publishing strategy.
Based United KingdomLanguages English
Community · Publisher and audience-development commentary
Gabriel Sands
Profile
Platform partnerships leader at Reddit. Works with publishers on Reddit as a distribution, community and audience-development channel.
Based United StatesLanguages EnglishNESS speaker 2026
Community · NESS 2026 speaker
Anna Sbuttoni
The Times & Sunday Times
Profile
Deputy audience editor at The Times & Sunday Times. Focuses on audience-first commissioning and search-led newsroom strategy inside a subscription publisher.
Based United KingdomLanguages EnglishNESS speaker 2023
Community · NESS 2023 speaker · Advocates audience-first newsroom strategy
Jes Scholz
Jes Scholz Consulting
Profile
Enterprise and publisher SEO consultant; former International Digital Director at Ringier. Specializes in rapid crawling, technical SEO, Discover and multi-market publisher search.
Based AustraliaLanguages EnglishNESS speaker 2023
Community · SEO Brief newsletter · NESS 2023 speaker · Original technical research · Global conference speaker
Barry Schwartz
Search Engine Roundtable / RustyBrick
Profile
Search journalist, publisher and editor of Search Engine Roundtable; CEO of RustyBrick and contributor to Search Engine Land. Provides daily coverage of Google Search, News and Discover changes.
Based United StatesLanguages EnglishNESS speaker 2025
Community · NESS 2025 future-of-SEO panel · Search Engine Land contributor · Vlog series
Olaf Seydel
DIE ZEIT / ZEIT ONLINE
Profile
Head of Engagement & Growth at DIE ZEIT. Works across audience development, data analytics, search and sustainable growth for a major subscription news brand.
Based GermanyLanguages German, EnglishNESS speaker 2024
Community · NESS 2024 speaker on topical authority · CAMPIXX and Botify Connect speaker
John Shehata
NewzDash / GDdash; NESS
Profile
Founder and CEO of NewzDash and GDdash; co-founder of NESS; former Global VP of Audience Development Strategy at Condé Nast and earlier search and audience leadership at Disney/ABC. Focuses on real-time news SEO, Google Discover and AI visibility data.
Based United StatesLanguages English, ArabicNESS speaker All years
Community · Co-founder of NESS · NewzDash research and guides · Conference speaker · Contributing author to The Art of SEO
Carolyn Shelby
NorthSide Metrics
Profile
Veteran technical and publisher SEO leader; founder of NorthSide Metrics and former Principal SEO at Yoast and SEO Director at Tribune Publishing. Deep experience with large news and content sites.
Based United StatesLanguages English
Community · Pubcon and industry speaker · SEO educator and writer · Former Yoast SEO Update speaker
Maddie Shepherd
CBS News and Stations
Profile
News SEO specialist at CBS News and Stations. Focuses on CTR, zero-click search, local-station SEO and newsroom audience growth.
Based United StatesLanguages EnglishNESS speaker 2025, 2026
Community · NESS 2025 and 2026 speaker · Public newsroom SEO educator
Adam Sherk
Define Media Group
Profile
Publisher SEO and audience-development consultant at Define Media Group. Advises publishers on enterprise search, audience growth and digital strategy.
Based United StatesLanguages English
Community · Publisher SEO writing and consulting
Marshall Simmonds
Define Media Group
Profile
Founder of Define Media Group; former enterprise search leader within The New York Times Company and About.com. One of the longest-serving enterprise publisher SEO practitioners.
Based United StatesLanguages EnglishNESS speaker 2025
Community · NESS 2025 career panel · Long-time conference speaker · Publisher search educator
Rafael Simões
SEO Happy Hour
Profile
SEO consultant and founder of SEO Happy Hour in Brazil. More than 15 years in SEO, with a strong public focus on search education, technical SEO, content strategy, AI search and analysis of major search-industry developments.
Based BrazilLanguages Portuguese
CommunitySEO Happy Hour newsletter and podcast · SEO education and industry analysis · Brazilian SEO community
Dan Smullen
Independent; formerly Mediahuis Ireland
Profile
News SEO consultant; former Head of SEO at Mediahuis Ireland / Independent.ie. Works on publisher search strategy across editorial and technical SEO.
Based IrelandLanguages EnglishNESS speaker 2021
Community · Search Engine Journal contributor on news SEO · BrightonSEO speaker · NESS 2021 speaker
Clara Soteras
Independent
Profile
SEO consultant and digital strategist for news publishers; former Director of SEO and Product at El Nacional. Specializes in publisher SEO, Discover and newsroom training in Spanish and Catalan markets.
Based SpainLanguages Spanish, Catalan, English
Community · International speaker · APM courses · Search Awards juror · Adjunct professor at UAB · Digital advisor at AMIC
Kjeld Stein
TAG24
Profile
Lead Data & SEO at TAG24. Works on data-driven news SEO, brand strategy and newsroom growth.
Based GermanyLanguages German, English
Community · NRC 2025 speaker
Carly Steven
MailOnline / Daily Mail
Profile
Editorial SEO and audience specialist at MailOnline / Daily Mail. Works on high-volume news SEO and newsroom audience growth.
Based United KingdomLanguages EnglishNESS speaker 2025
Community · International speaker including NONA · NESS 2025 career panel
Kyle Sutton
The Washington Post
Profile
Head of AI Discovery & SEO at The Washington Post; formerly senior SEO leadership at The Points Guy and Gannett / USA TODAY. Focuses on enterprise news SEO and AI discovery.
Based United StatesLanguages English
Community · Regular public analysis of publisher visibility in AI features · Podcast guest on news publishing SEO
Kenichi Suzuki
Faber Company
Profile
Executive officer and chief SEO strategist at Faber Company; Google Search Central Diamond Product Expert. Long-standing Japanese-language educator on Google Search and international SEO.
Based JapanLanguages Japanese, English
Community · Overseas SEO Information Blog · Google Search Central Product Expert · Conference speaker
Simme Volkers
DPG Media
Profile
SEO specialist at DPG Media. Works on publisher SEO across major Dutch and Belgian media brands.
Based NetherlandsLanguages Dutch, English
Community · Dutch digital-marketing events · Dutch SEO publications
Tobias Willmann
Ringier Medien Schweiz (Blick)
Profile
Lead SEO at Ringier Medien Schweiz / Blick. Works on technical and data-driven SEO across a multi-brand publisher environment.
Based SwitzerlandLanguages German
Community · NRC 2025 speaker
Jessie Willms
The Guardian US; WTF is SEO?
Profile
SEO Editor at The Guardian US, co-founder of WTF is SEO? and journalism instructor. Formerly at The Globe and Mail. Focuses on newsroom SEO, training and audience strategy.
Based United States, CanadaLanguages English
Community · Co-founder of WTF is SEO? · NRC 2025 speaker · ONA and NASH talks · Journalism instructor
Steven Wilson-Beales
Independent
Profile
Publisher SEO and AI-visibility consultant; former Head of SEO and Editorial Product at Global. Works on publisher strategy, audience growth, video and AI discovery.
Based United KingdomLanguages EnglishNESS speaker 2025
Community · Publishing Strategies newsletter · Beers & SEO podcast with Barry Adams · Former AOP Journalism Advisory Board co-chair · NESS and BrightonSEO speaker
Philippe Yonnet
Groupe Neper
Profile
Founder and enterprise SEO consultant at Groupe Neper; former SEO Camp president. Provides analysis on search, AI and digital-publisher visibility.
Based FranceLanguages French, English
Community · Long-standing French SEO educator and conference organizer
Affiliations checked against speaker pages, author bios and public profiles as of September 2026. People move; corrections and additions are welcome.
