Garry Pierre-Pierre is handing the reins of The Haitian Times to his protege Vania Andre, signaling a generational change for the publication.

NEW YORK — HaitiNex Media Group today named Vania Andre publisher of the Haitian Times, replacing veteran journalist and founder Garry Pierre-Pierre. Andre will retain her title as editor in chief, while Pierre-Pierre will shift his attention to developing products that fall under the HaitiNex Media Group brand.

The Haitian Times is one of the oldest news outlets in the Haitian Diaspora and is considered one of the best ethnic media publications in the United States. Acquired by HaitiNex Media Group in 2018, the Haitian Times was founded in 1999 by Pierre-Pierre, who is a Pulitzer-prize winning, multimedia and entrepreneurial journalist. He is also the co-founder of the City University Graduate School of Journalism Center for Community and Ethnic Media and a senior producer at CUNY TV.

“Vania has successfully managed and grown the Haitian Times over the past five years,” Pierre-Pierre said. “She shares my vision for the future of the Haitian Times, and through her dedication and hard work will ensure we are here, bridging the gap between Haiti and the Diaspora for the next 20 years.”

“Garry’s passing of this torch to Vania is a moment to celebrate,” said Mitchell J. Silver, commissioner, NYC Parks. “As a Haitian-American, I commend the Haitian Times for its unwavering commitment to journalism that supports and showcases the Haitian Community and its culture, here and around the world. I look forward to seeing Vania lead this platform into the future.”

Andre joined the Haitian Times in 2014 as editor in chief. She is a first-generation Haitian-American media professional with a background in marketing, public relations, and journalism. She’s covered the Haitian community for almost 10 years and published profiles on Haitians Americans who have impacted the Black experience in America.

”I can think of no one more qualified than Vania Andre to assume the role of publisher for such a historic news publication as the Haitian Times,” said Rosemonde Pierre-Louis, Chairperson, The Haitian Roundtable. “Vania is a proven leader and an exceptional journalist who as editor in chief of the Haitian Times has provided depth, texture and dimension regarding current events impacting the Haitian Diaspora community. She is the voice of a new generation of journalists and publishers and I look forward to the Haitian Times soaring to new heights under her leadership. I am also immensely proud that Vania’s appointment will expand the ranks of women serving as publisher for a newspaper such as the Haitian Times which is quintessentially New York. “

Under her direction, the publication’s readership has experienced more than a 1,000 percent increase in traffic. From May 2018 – December 2018, there were more than 3 million-page views, compared to only 177,000 during the same period in 2014.

“I’m excited to start this new chapter as publisher of Haitian Times,” Andre said. “This year we celebrate 20 years of sharing stories from our communities and highlighting issues that are important to Haitians across the country.

As publisher, Andre will focus on recruiting first-rate reporters that will expand Haitian Times’ coverage globally.  She will also lead the company’s tech growth and transform site visitors from passive consumers of news, to engaged members interacting with Haitian Times’ resources on and offline.

“I believe strongly in what Garry created and am humbled that he’s entrusted me in fulfilling his vision for Haitian Times.”

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ABOUT THE HAITIAN TIMES

The Haitian Times is the leading news outlet covering the Haitian Diaspora globally. Our mission is to bridge the generational and geographical gaps among Haitians, and tell the real story of Haiti through a human-first perspective. Founded in 1999 in Brooklyn, New York as a weekly publication, The Haitian Times has evolved from a local newspaper to a global media brand covering the community’s evolution across borders. Follow us on Twitter @HaitianTimes_ Instagram @HaitianTimes, and TikTok @thehaitiantimes.