The Beyoncé reporter job at USA Today, which drew buzz and controversy alongside a similar gig covering Taylor Swift, was filled earlier this week.
The Gannett-owned publication announced that Caché McClay, a journalist formerly with BBC News and TMZ, had her first day on the job Monday, based at the news chain’s publication the Tennessean near Nashville. After beating out hundreds of candidates, she joined that paper’s music team, but McClay’s work also will be shared to USA Today’s network of more than 200 local news publications across the United States.
“I grew up in a Beyoncé household, and her melodies were often my alarm on Saturday mornings — and certainly on the playlist for my family’s weekly cleaning rituals,” wrote McClay, a Howard University alum, in a statement shared Monday. “Moreover, I saw firsthand the impact Beyoncé had on my mom and sister as Black women, and that trickled down to me. Not only were we moved by her music, but we were moved by her remarkable worldwide achievements.”
In addition to Beyoncé’s music releases and performances, McClay’s beat will include coverage of the singer’s passionate fan base, the Beyhive, as well as her “evolution as a businesswoman.” Beyoncé launched fashion brand House of Deréon in 2011, followed by the athleisure clothing line Ivy Park, her new fragrance Cé Noir and an upcoming hair-care line.
McClay acknowledged that the Grammy winner rarely grants interviews, but said, “I…
