Gabe Whisnant named interim editor of Gannett's South Carolina newsrooms

Gabe Whisnant has been named interim editor of the USA TODAY Network newsrooms in South Carolina. Whisnant replaces Elizabeth Walters, who left her position Friday, Nov. 25. 

Whisnant has been news director for the Greenville News, Anderson Independent Mail and Spartanburg Herald Journal since September. Prior to that, he was the news director for the Herald Journal. 

In his new position, Whisnant will oversee operations in Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson and Bluffton in South Carolina.  

Walters, who has been named audience development editor at The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C., had been interim editor of the Upstate newsrooms since September.  

"Gabe has a deep love and commitment to the Carolinas and to telling the important stories in each of our Upstate communities," Walters said. "His emphasis on local journalism is evident, and I know that he will continue to build on the success of our newsrooms and be a great leader for this team."

Whisnant is a native of Shelby, North Carolina. He has lived in Spartanburg and has been in an editor role for the Herald-Journal for the past five years. Whisnant, with 20 years of experience in newsrooms, has previously worked in editor roles for North Carolina publications in Gastonia and Shelby. 

“I am humbled and honored to lead our Upstate newsrooms,” Whisnant said. “Our team of journalists makes me proud every day with their hard work, tenacity and knowledge of their beats. We will continue to have the over-arching goal of making our South Carolina communities better through our watchdog reporting.”  

The Greenville News, Spartanburg-Herald-Journal and Anderson Independent Mail comprise nearly 30 journalists who serve Upstate South Carolina for Gannett, which owns more than 250 daily newspapers across the United States.