The Free Press has lost two of its rising young stars in the first six weeks of the new year to other papers in the Gannett chain, where they will become the top editors.

On Thursday, The Tennessean in Nashville announced Stefanie Murray, the assistant managing editor/digital with the Free Press, was named vice president/content and engagement. That position is the newsroom’s top leadership role.

According to the Tennessean, Murray, 33, is an award-winning journalist with more than a dozen years of experience in writing, social media, reader engagement, digital editing and content production.

The paper said:

She is an expert in the area of consumer analytics, content programming and real-time engagement, a relatively new tool and skill set for the news industry.

On January 24, the Des Moines Register announced Amalie Nash would become its new editor and vice president for audience engagement.  Nash, 37, had been the popular assistant managing editor for metro-state news with the Detroit Free Press, a job that entailed overseeing the paper’s news reporting, including coverage of Detroit's bankruptcy.

Both Murray and Nash came to the Free Press three years ago from AnnArbor.com, which was formed when the Ann Arbor News closed in 2009.

Paul Anger, editor and publisher of the Free Press, and Nancy Andrews, managing editor of digital media, praised Murray in an email to the staff, adding, "It's also flattering to the Free Press that -- once again -- Gannett has looked our way for outstanding talent to take on significant positions in the company." 

Laura Hollingsworth, President and Publisher of The Tennessean, said of Murray:

“I’m very pleased to be bringing Stefanie to The Tennessean and to Nashville. She’s an innovator and a leader in our industry who will impact quality experiences for our readers."

The departures of Murray and Nash follow the layoffs last month of five Free Press newsroom employees and one sports editor. On Wednesday, the Detroit Media Partnership, the company that handles business operations for the Free Press and News, laid off several staffers after laying off about a dozen employees last month.

Previously on Deadline Detroit:

Industry Experts Go Negative On Gannett, The Free Press Owner