Jigsha Desai
About Jigsha Desai
Jigsha Desai serves as the Director of the Florida Georgia and South Digital Optimization Teams at Gannett | USA TODAY NETWORK, where she has worked since 2022. She specializes in digital operations, audience management, and training staff in search engine optimization techniques.
Current Role at Gannett
Jigsha Desai serves as the Director of the Florida-Georgia and South Digital Optimization Teams (DOT) at Gannett | USA TODAY NETWORK. She has held this position since 2022, working remotely. In her role, she edits copy, video, and social content, while also teaching staff about search engine optimization techniques. Desai manages audience plans and staffing coverage for significant news and sports events, including hurricane season.
Education and Expertise
Jigsha Desai earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Temple University, where she studied from 1999 to 2002. Prior to that, she attended Philadelphia University, completing a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from 1998 to 1999. Her educational background has equipped her with skills in journalism, digital content creation, and audience engagement.
Digital Operations Management
In her role, Desai oversees digital operations for two audience teams that collaborate with 50 newsrooms across nine states. She organizes news coverage and platform assignments during breaking news situations, ensuring the integration of audience data to enhance reporting. Desai also develops efficient workflows that can be scaled across the company, focusing on team building and communication.
Training and Development Initiatives
Desai creates and broadcasts training webinars aimed at nurturing a pipeline of talent within Gannett. She presents on audience trends and training ideas to newsrooms and teams across the organization. Her initiatives include leading projects in vertical video and social video to enhance digital content strategies.
Crisis Management and Coverage Oversight
Desai monitors news coverage while adhering to the company's crime reporting guidelines. She manages team staffing to prevent fatigue during challenging stories, ensuring that her teams are prepared and supported during high-pressure situations.