John Adams (recommended candidate)
Executive Director & Editor-in-Chief
Montana Free Press
The INN Board of Directors represent INN, and the entire 425+ member-strong INN Network. Each deeply understands the value that nonprofit newsrooms bring into the communities served, and to democracy itself. As such, they are often invited to take on a larger leadership role within the field of journalism.
Under the bylaws, the board is composed of up to six executive directors appointed by the board, and six executive directors elected from and by member organizations. Each elected member representative director serves a three-year term. Two seats open annually for election. The board recently instituted eligibility requirements, and a new process for recommending candidates, to help ensure the board has the skills that it needs and to advance its goals around diverse representation.
Voters are encouraged to consider how a candidate engages with INN; that publication types, organizational stages and regions are well-balanced, and whether the candidate’s vision for their role aligns with INN’s values. The current board is listed here.
Ballots will be distributed to members via email starting Oct. 3. One voting representative from each member organization can vote for up to TWO (2) candidates. Voting is restricted to the top leader at each member organization. Voting closes at 12 p.m. ET on Oct. 16. The two candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be elected.
All eligible candidates provide candidate statements. This information includes: 1) endorsements they received, 2) their bios, 3) their engagement with INN, 4) their skills and experience, 5) their vision for the role, and 6) their strong suit in regard to problem-framing and analysis, strategy and planning, tactics and execution. Read more about each candidate below.
If you are not sure whether you are the correct person to vote for your organization, please reach out to membership@inn.org.
Candidates are listed alphabetically, with candidates recommended by the current Board of Directors listed first. Click on a name below or keep scrolling to read candidates’ statements and bios:
John Adams (recommended candidate)
Executive Director & Editor-in-Chief
Montana Free Press
Watch John Adams’ candidate video.
How many years have you led an INN member organization? 8 years
Endorsed by:
Shamus Toomey, Publisher & Co-Founder at Block Club Chicago
John Adams is the perfect candidate to join the INN board because he has 360-degree view of what it takes to launch and lead a nonprofit newsroom no matter the headwinds. Montana Free Press is a shining example of how a fearless newsroom can tackle issues being ignored by legacy media, and John has the guts, drive and community-focused personality to do it on a daily basis.
Wendi Thomas, Editor & Publisher at MLK50
I’m proud to support John Adams’ candidacy for the INN board. John bootstrapped a strong nonprofit newsroom in Montana and has deep expertise in areas ranging from product development to audience growth and membership revenue. He’s collegial, clear-eyed about the industry’s challenges, and committed to growing sustainable news organizations not just in Montana but across the country.
Bio
John Adams is a prominent journalist and media executive widely recognized for his contributions to independent journalism. As the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Montana Free Press, a nonprofit news organization that covers politics and public policy in Montana, Adams has established himself as a leading voice in investigative and statehouse news coverage.
Prior to launching MTFP, Adams served as the Capitol Bureau Chief of the Great Falls Tribune and was a correspondent for USA TODAY. His groundbreaking reporting on the influence of dark money in Montana political elections was the subject of the acclaimed 2018 documentary film, Dark Money, which was shortlisted for the Oscars and received critical acclaim for its exploration of the corrupting influence of untraceable corporate spending in elections. In 2020 Dark Money was awarded the Alfred I duPont Columbia Award.
In 2016, Adams founded Montana Free Press with a mission to provide in-depth investigative, political, and statehouse news coverage. Under his leadership, the organization has received numerous awards and accolades, including being named “Business of the Year” by the Local Independent Online Publishers in 2022.
Adams is a respected commentator on Montana politics and public affairs and has been featured in numerous national news programs. He is a passionate advocate for independent journalism and believes that high-quality news reporting is essential to a healthy democracy.
Engagement with INN
While this list is not comprehensive, here are some examples of programs and events MTFP has participated in in the past two years:
We’ve participated in virtual events, webinars, and informal get-togethers not reflected in this list.
Skills & Experience Offered
I’m passionate about nonprofit news, and I’m an effective communicator about the critical link between a healthy democracy and an informed public. Regularly called upon by the media, educators, and civic-minded institutions to speak about the future of journalism and the role nonprofit news plays in preserving and strengthening democratic institutions, I embrace every opportunity to advocate for our field. This experience has helped me develop the ability to clearly communicate my vision for how the nonprofit journalism sector can and should play a pivotal role in repairing and building trust with audiences at the local, state and national levels. I have a demonstrated ability to lead teams in product development, technology innovation, financial sustainability and membership and audience growth. I would bring these skills and more to the INN board.
Vision for the Role
I have built strong relationships with INN leaders throughout the country. I have a keen understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing nonprofit newsrooms, from the largest, regional and national outlets, to the smallest hyper-local organizations. I would continue to build on existing relationships and expand my network in order to give a voice to all. I don’t have specific examples of how I would change the staff, but I would make sure that the INN support staff has a liaison on the board. And someone who has worked as both a nonprofit news leader and with the INN staff, think I bring a unique understanding of the role INN staff play in supporting the nonprofit news ecosystem.
Strong Suit 1) problem-framing and analysis, 2) strategy 3) plans, tactics and execution
I believe my most vital asset is my strategic vision and problem-solving ability. No problem is too big, or insurmountable. Every challenge has a solution, but it requires thoughtful analysis, creative thinking and a willingness to work with others to find the difficult answers. I think my ability to work together and seek out those with knowledge and experience is one of my biggest strengths, and I would bring that experience and willingness to the INN board.
Dana Amihere (recommended candidate)
Founder & Executive Director
AfroLA News
Watch Dana Amihere’s candidate video.
How many years have you led an INN member organization? 1 year
Endorsed by:
Chris Green, Executive Editor of The Journal at Kansas Leadership Center
I met Dana Amihere through the Solutions Journalism Network and have seen the growth and impact of her work during our yearlong SJN fellowship together. An accomplished designer, developer, data journalist, teacher and founder, Dana lives out the mission of expanding the reach of trusted news and would be a tremendous board member for the Institute for Nonprofit News.
Sisi Wei, Editor-in-Chief at The Markup
Dana Amihere would be a standout representative of a variety of INN members and contributor to INN’s board, since her experience spans so many different aspects of nonprofit investigative work — from being a data journalist to knowing first-hand what it’s like to create your own organization from scratch. Dana’s personal mission also matches with INN’s to tell stories that otherwise gone untold in our communities, and adding her voice to the board would be a huge benefit to INN.
Bio
Dana Amihere is the founder/executive director of AfroLA, a solutions-focused, data-driven and community-centered journalism for Los Angeles, told through the lens of the Black community, and with emphasis on how news may disparately impact L.A.’s most vulnerable groups and communities of color.
A designer, developer and data journalist, she left conventional newsrooms in 2021 to start Code Black Media, a digital media consultancy that lives at the intersection of data, design and equity. She previously worked in data reporting, interactive design and news apps development for Southern California Public Radio/LAist, The Dallas Morning News, Pew Research Center and The Baltimore Sun.
Amihere has a passion for finding the human stories behind data points and creating compelling news experiences for audiences from them. She says her editorial and design decisions are intentional and purposeful. “I want to make people feel something about what they read, see and hear. I want their anger, dismay or gratitude to spur them to do something.”
Amihere has taught data journalism and interaction design at conferences and colleges across the country. Since relocating to Los Angeles in 2018, she’s been an instructor at USC and, most recently, a lecturer at UC Berkeley. At Berkeley, Amihere created a new 15-week version of Intro to Data Journalism for graduate students based upon a summer undergraduate class of the same name she was already teaching. She advised students on work with the Investigative Reporting Project and was a thesis reader for four other students.
Engagement with INN
News Match 2023 is the first INN program AfroLA has been able to participate in (we hadn’t existed long enough last year.) I think INN offers a robust buffet of programming and trainings. For example, I think that INN Days is one of the best conferences in the industry at the moment, and that’s just based off the blog posts and takeaways from folks who’ve attended (because I haven’t been able to afford to go since I became an independent journalist and founded AfroLA).
However, I feel that INN, like many similar organizations, doesn’t focus enough on people like me and organizations like AfroLA that are in the “middle.” The middle is where many local news startup founders live, and no one in this industry space seems to tap into our specific needs in a meaningful way.
I believe that more emphasis should be placed upon folks who have mastered accounting, legal and logistical foundational skills but aren’t ready to apply for millions of dollars in grant funding or have a salaried staff. Rather, I’d love to advocate for more services available to help connect “the middle” with solely-operational funds to keep the lights on and take home a monthly check as opposed to opportunities that are project-based or require coaching or other meeting requirements.
Skills & Experience Offered
I believe that my election to the board will bring a much-needed perspective of local news from someone currently leading a local news organization. Especially, one that is much smaller than more well-known names in nonprofit news, such as MLK50, Open Vallejo and El Tímpano, which are more comparable to AfroLA in size and also hyperlocal. That’s not to say the current board can’t perceive and act upon the needs of lesser-known local shops, but our needs are inherently as different as the communities we primarily serve. And, we’re often not heard as loudly or with as much attentiveness.
I bring insights from collective lived experiences as data journalist, designer, web developer, professor and newsroom founder that not many other candidates will possess. Additionally, I think that starting my own successful data consultancy business and founding a nonprofit newsroom—from conception to launch—in less than a year shows resourcefulness, business acumen and problem-solving skills that I can bring to the boardroom.
I believe that my solutions journalism work that centers racial and social justice says a lot about my values and editorial ethics. Part of our model is to not cover breaking news. We prioritize impact, insight and nuance through explanatory solutions journalism—which gives context of a situation as part of something bigger—over being first. Moreover, almost a third of our content is produced by students and non-journalists from the community.
I think my efforts to disrupt newsroom culture with DEI-in-action demonstrates what I’m committed to and will bring to INN.
Vision for the Role
To better represent the needs of INN members, I think that we need to listen more attentively to what they can tell us, and learn—and act—accordingly. While I believe INN collects important, meaningful information through its surveys, I think there’s more to be done from a data perspective that can shed light on the needs of smaller outlets and how they can be more supported. For example, there are very specific needs and struggles for founders of color that I don’t believe any journalism support organization addresses comprehensively. As a board member, I would work with INN staff to devise a strategic plan to more effectively serve members of racial, ethnic and gender identity affinity groups. I think that truly understanding how members need—and want—to be supported is a step toward the overall industry’s growth, as INN has more than 400 members.
Strong Suit 1) problem-framing and analysis, 2) strategy 3) plans, tactics and execution
While I’ve spent a lot of my career in data and analysis, I think that my most valuable contribution to the board is strategy. As a long-time project manager, I know how to juggle multiple groups’ needs and perspectives, assessing them to incorporate into a final plan of action. I’m also comfortable building upon the findings of collected data to formulate an action plan. I’m an adaptable critical thinker that’s not afraid of a challenging problem to solve.
I thrive coming up with innovative ways to think about a problem, especially when it disrupts the status quo. I’m empathetic toward those affected by a plan and who may fear change, but I’m unafraid to try something new—and won’t shy away from it. Journalism is undoubtedly fractured, and historic solutions to newer problems aren’t working. Sometimes the best way to fix something is to break it down completely (even if just as a thought experiment), and learn from the pieces.
Lauren Gustus (recommended candidate)
Executive Editor
The Salt Lake Tribune
Watch Lauren Gustus’ candidate video.
How many years have you led an INN member organization? 3 years
Endorsed by:
Candace Fortman, Founder at Outlier Media
With great joy, I submit this recommendation for Lauren Gustus for the INN Board. When we think of the future ahead for journalism, we need bright, energetic, and systematic leaders willing to make bold and unchartered steps; that’s Lauren. Beyond her brilliance in helping to transform The Salt Lake Tribune, she is also incredibly generous with her mentorship to others in the industry, including me. Lauren learns and then teaches others. She is truly a leaders, leader. INN’s membership would benefit greatly from her service.
Norberto Santana, Publisher & Editor at Voice of OC
Lauren is a visionary, energetic and inclusive leader who understands the myriad challenges facing today’s nonprofit newsrooms. Leading one of the country’s largest nonprofit newsrooms in Salt Lake City, she’s in a great position to help coach and inspire INN members as a member of the board.
Bio
Lauren became Executive Editor of The Salt Lake Tribune in December 2020. The Tribune is the first major metro news organization to become a nonprofit.
In 2022, The Tribune became a founding member of the Great Salt Lake Collaborative, a group of 23 organizations focused on elevating solutions to the lake’s challenges. It also shares its daily reporting with journalism partners throughout the state through the Utah News Collaborative. In 2023, The Moab Times-Independent donated itself to The Tribune, which oversees its operations. Moab retains independence with respect to newsgathering.
Lauren previously worked for McClatchy as West Region Editor, overseeing 10 news organizations in Idaho, Washington and California, including the flagship Sacramento Bee.
Lauren has also served as an editor in Colorado, where her work on transparency contributed to a new law that facilitated greater access to public records, and in Reno, where her team’s work on the housing crisis was recognized nationally.
She is a coach in the Media Transformation Challenge at The Poynter Institute, supporting other news leaders as they look to make performance-driven change.
Engagement with INN
Skills & Experience Offered
I can bring the local and statewide news gathering and dissemination perspective to INN’s board, which can be of value as we are closest to communities we serve both in Salt Lake City and in rural communities (including Moab, where The Times-Independent donated itself to The Tribune in July 2023).
We’ve also gotten pretty familiar with fundraising at The Tribune, which was the first major metro to convert to nonprofit status, and I am happy to share my experiences.
Finally, I serve as a coach in the Media Transformation Challenge at Poynter Institute, focusing fellows on performance-driven change.
Vision for the Role
I believe INN has tremendous influence, more than it likely knows, and it can be more proactive (and potentially more prescriptive) in supporting its members with recommendations on vendors, tech stack, fundraising, etc.
I also think the network can be further maximized to support the individual news organizations by maximizing IP, reach, loyal audience and other collective assets.
Finally, I would love to support staff in setting strategy and underlying tactics to help members get to outcomes. Which, one would hope, leads to more/better sustainability for members.
Strong Suit 1) problem-framing and analysis, 2) strategy 3) plans, tactics and execution
As an MTC coach, I have worked with fellows to improve their problem statement construction and strategies and tactics that must underpin the work if the problem is to be solved.
We use the snowman/snowwoman/snowperson metaphor – tactics at bottom, strategies in the middle and problem statement/vision at the top.
While I’m fluent in all 3 levels of the snowman, my strength is tactics/execution.
Rachel Hubbard (recommended candidate)
Executive Director
KOSU
Watch Rachel Hubbard’s candidate video.
How many years have you led an INN member organization? 3 years
Endorsed by:
Mollie Kabler, Executive Director at Coast Alaska
I am writing to recommend Rachel Hubbard for a seat on the INN Board of Directors. Recently I served with Rachel on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting CSG panel working through policy that affects all the CPB radio grantees. Rachel was a standout in terms of participation advocating for policies that matched her sense of integrity and values. Rachel is terrific at speaking her truth about the importance of public media as a source of local news reflecting the voices and viewpoints of the full diversity of her state’s population. As an INN member I am confident Rachel would listen, consider and participate thoughtfully on the board.
Kyra McGrath, EVP & President, New Ventures and Enterprises at BillyPenn/Plan Philly/WHYY
As chair of the SRG Board, we recruited Rachel a few years ago, and she has proven to be a very valuable member. Besides her great work leading KOSU, especially their coverage of Native American issues which are not widely covered in the system, she has a great perspective on system-wide issues and the future of media. I highly endorse her for a position on the INN board.
Bio
I’m Rachel Hubbard, and I’m the executive director at KOSU, a public radio station and digital news service in Oklahoma. I’ve been a journalist since going to work at a small community news service and radio station when I was 16. I love journalism and the potential it has to impact people’s lives. I’ve worked on projects that have won the Scripps Howard Sigma Delta Chi and duPont-Columbia awards.
Several years ago, I wondered how we could disrupt our industry and position it for the future. So, I went and got a master’s degree in business and entrepreneurship, and started to use the curiosity and questioning skills I honed as a journalist on the other side of things. I became executive director in February 2020 (yeah…that was fun). Since then, we’ve done a digital transformation project, started a daily news podcast, revamped our daily email newsletter, grown our digital audience by more than 50 percent since 2020. We’ve also started a major giving program, tripled the size of our newsroom, and we’re in the black for the first time since 2017.
I am deeply connected to rural America, and I am very passionate about rural news. I grew up on a farm, and my family still lives there and operates it. I’m closer to Oklahoma City these days, but my husband and I still have a donkey, two horses, three dogs, a very ornery donkey, a six-hive apiary and a wily five-year-old boy.
Engagement with INN
Skills & Experience Offered
As we scan the landscape of journalism and media right now, it can seem daunting. In that mess, I see hope and opportunity, and I’m excited. I love to pick things apart, network and figure out new solutions. In listening to the amazing work that is happening across INN at the INNY Awards, I just can’t wait to do more to support the amazing work you are doing. I tell my staff regularly that every day we should be a little scared or nervous about whether or not what we are doing will work. To me, that is a sign that we are pushing forward and taking some risk. I’ve had a diverse set of experiences that could be helpful on the INN Board, but the ones I believe could be of near term benefit include.
Legislative Advocacy – My first full-time gig was as a statehouse reporter, which helped my deep understanding of the legislative process. Now, I regularly engage with policy makers at the city, state and federal levels around privacy laws and how they could affect reporters, a new funding model for journalism and protections for reporters.
Network Building – As a journalist, I’ve spent a lot of time listening to people. I use that skill now for fundraising and business development. I firmly believe we have so much we can learn from other industries and nonprofits that can benefit journalism. I have deep networks, but I intend to keep building those to move our collective mission forward.
Vision for the Role
I don’t come in with any preconceived notions about how I can do anything that would be transformative of the great work INN has been doing for some time. The thing I can promise is that I will listen to the needs of INN staff and its varied member organizations. I will also bring my professional and lived experience to the table and make any connections that seem appropriate.
Much of my success as a nonprofit news leader has been supported by peer networks and amazing advice from people across the nonprofit world and nonprofit news. I am running for the INN Board in an effort to give back some of what has been given to me.
Strong Suit 1) problem-framing and analysis, 2) strategy 3) plans, tactics and execution
I’ve had to engage in all of these during my career, and I think having an understanding of all three areas is extremely important. My favorite, and the one that gives me energy and hope for the future is strategy. In deciding to run, I asked my staff for their support first because I know this will be a commitment for all of us. One person on the team said this about me. “You’re good at creating a vision and then explaining it in a digestible way to create buy-in.”
Carla Minet (recommended candidate)
Executive Director
Centro de Periodismo Investigativo
Watch Carla Minet’s candidate video.
How many years have you led an INN member organization? 8 years
Endorsed by:
Mazin Sidahmed, Co-Executive Director at Documented
Carla Minet is one of the world’s finest investigative journalist and newsroom leaders. She’s built Centro de Periodismo Investigativo into one of the fiercest and most consequential news outlets in this hemisphere, while intentionally growing it as a sustainable business. Their work is an inspiration for us at Documented and INN would be lucky to have her on the board.
Paul Cheung, CEO at Center for Public Integrity
I enthusiastically support Carla Minet’s nomination for the INN’s Board of Directors. Having had the privilege of serving alongside Carla on the News Leadership Association’s board, I can attest to her qualities as a considerate leader and a dedicated board member. Carla possesses the ability to provide valuable advice, offer insightful perspectives, and provide strategic guidance for both the CEO and the organization.
Bio
I am the Executive Director and Editor in Chief at the Centro de Periodismo Investigativo (CPI) in Puerto Rico. My investigative work has focused mostly on political campaigns, corruption, environmental issues and government affairs. For the past 25 years, I have worked as a reporter, editor and producer for radio, TV, print and digital. At CPI, I have had the privilege of leading teams that won the Investigative Reporters and Editors’ Philip Meyer Award for Precision Journalism, the Louis M. Lyons Award for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism at Harvard University, the Aronson Award for Social Justice at the City University of New York, and the Izzy Award for Conscience Journalism at Ithaca College, among others. I am a member of the Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and board member of the News Leaders Association (NLA). Also, I have been a contributor to The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR and BBC, among other US media outlets. For six years, I was executive director of the nonprofit called Community Press. I graduated from the Public Communication School at the University of Puerto Rico, and my master’s in journalism is a joint degree between the University of Barcelona and Columbia University in New York. I have been a speaker at conferences and forums, trainer at the IRE, and professor at the University of Puerto Rico.
Engagement with INN
The Centro de Periodismo Investigativo has been a member of INN for the past 8 years. We have participated in numerous initiatives like Newsmatch from its inception. Newmatch has taught CPI how to structure and systematize campaigns in such an effective way that we have been able to use those learnings and strategies all year long in other campaigns and in events. We have also participated in INN Days more than four times over the years and in the INN Index Survey, which is a great research effort that helps the industry set benchmarks and aspirations and gives us important data regarding DEI indicators, compensation, human resources management, career path and retention tactics.
More recently, CPI registered to participate in the GNI Fundamentals Lab to improve our organizational sustainability.
All these initiatives, as well as the learning community INN empowers have been fundamental to the CPI’s growth.
Skills & Experience Offered
INN has become an indispensable organization for many newsrooms. It consists mostly of small and medium sized newsrooms, and the organization I lead is in the middle of those brackets, so I would be able to get in the shoes of both kinds of entities. CPI is a Latin, women-led, bilingual news outlet, and I would bring that diversity perspective to INN, an organization that advocates and trains in DEI. I’ve had the privilege to be the executive director of two great media organizations that have grown from pro bono and voluntary work to become formal stable workplaces with great impact. At CPI, I now manage a 17 full time employee team and overview operations, revenue, programs and editorial. I am a self taught leader that prioritizes having an exemplary work culture, based on continuous training and collaboration, as well as pursuing mission aligned growth opportunities. I take pride in being surrounded by talented colleagues that I have hand picked over the years and have been fundamental to the CPI’s recognition and expansion. Our budget has grown from $300,000 when I started as director in 2014 to $2.3 million in 2023.
CPI runs a training institute for local and Caribbean journalists and a transparency program, both formalized during my tenure. I’ve gained extensive grant writing and fundraising skills as well as a comprehensive understanding of administrative and financial management of nonprofits. This includes dealing with protocols, guides, and assessments regarding technology, security, and ethics issues most media face.
Vision for the Role
I would need to get familiarized with INN’s strategic plans to be able to identify how I can best support the organization. I am sure that between my priorities would be to explore group opportunities for members regarding technology, fundraising and human resources management. Growing a thriving learning community, systematizing knowledge and making it available permanently in multiple formats to our members will also be areas of work that I will pay attention to.
The challenges that nonprofit newsrooms face today are extraordinary: funding, sustainable growth, talent hiring and retention, impact tracking, audience strategy and legal threats are only part of our daily menu. INN has been there and can do more to be the support organization we all get to consult and we all look for institutional training and opportunities. Its members’ input and the historic memory INN has built is so vast that I am confident we are at a very promising juncture to help our newsrooms community sort out the hurdles of this ever changing industry.
Strong Suit 1) problem-framing and analysis, 2) strategy 3) plans, tactics and execution
Leading a nonprofit organization like CPI means you usually are in charge of problem framing and analysis, strategizing, making plans and executing them. But I would say that I like devoting time and energy to problem framing and analysis, since if that stage of the process is not done right, the rest of the processes are usually flawed. On the other hand, I am a team player and wherever my hands are needed, that is where I will be when I join a group. I would also prioritize accountability, transparency and analysis of impact indicators within the organization, which I feel are areas INN should model to the nonprofit news community.
Akoto Ofori-Atta (recommended candidate)
Co-Founder & Chief Audience Officer
Capital B
Watch Akoto Ofori-Atta’s candidate video.
How many years have you led an INN member organization? 2 years
Endorsed by:
Sarah Alvarez, Co-Founder at Outlier Media
I strongly encourage the INN Board of Directors to select Akoto Ofori-Atta as a new member. Her work founding and leading an innovative non-profit newsroom and coalition building with other local news leaders puts her in a wonderful position to serve INN specifically and the larger nonprofit news community.
Jean Friedman-Rudovsky, Executive Director at Resolve Philly
Beyond her intelligence, passion, and community-focused editorial mindset, Akoto Ofori-Atta would be an excellent INN board member because of the range of experiences she’s had in several nonprofit newsrooms. She’s been an award-winning editor and the successful co-founder of a start-up. This gives her critical insight into the needs of a breadth of INN’s membership on an institutional level, and also insight into opportunities for how INN can/should support the wide range of people and positions who make up their member organizations.
Bio
Akoto Ofori-Atta is the Chief Audience Officer and Co-founder of Capital B, a first-of-its-kind nonprofit local and national news organization centering Black communities and experiences. Akoto brings a wealth of journalism and leadership experience to her role as Chief Audience Officer. She was previously Managing Editor at The Trace, where she was responsible for partnerships, special projects, and editorial operations. As a founding editor, Akoto helped secure more than 170 local and national editorial partners for The Trace’s features and investigations. She also held the positions of Associate Editor and Social Media Manager at The Root and Senior Editor at Essence Magazine. In 2015, she completed a John S. Knight Journalism Fellowship at Stanford University, where she focused on issues surrounding diversity and the Black press. She was selected as a 2019-2020 Emerging Leader for the Institute of Nonprofit News, and was a fellow at the Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program at Columbia University’s School of Journalism.
Engagement with INN
Michelle Williams, Capital B’s director of growth and partnerships, is a 2023 Emerging Leader at INN. Additionally, Jahmaiah Dones Capital B’s development director is participating in INN”s 2023 Major Gifts Cohort Program.
Skills & Experience Offered
Since its founding in 2022, Capital B has told more than 800 Black stories, launched a local newsroom in Atlanta and announced a second newsroom in Gary, Indiana, coming later this year, hosted close to 20 virtual and in-person events, hired a team of 27 dedicated Black journalists and business professionals, and gained the support of more than 1000 small donors. These are all important steps to realize our goal to make journalism work better for Black people.
At Capital B, and as a founding editor at The Trace, I’ve leaned into the power in relationship building and cultivating successful partnerships to reach wider audiences with crucial, public service journalism. In a challenging and hyper-competitive news environment, I have a proven record of bringing newsrooms together to produce journalism that is more meaningful and consequential than we could have achieved on our own. It’s this core value of collaboration and consensus building that I would bring to my role as an INN board member.
Vision for the Role
We are at a pivotal moment. Emerging technologies could disrupt the process of news creation. Methods for receiving and distributing news are rapidly changing. The social media landscape looks much different than it did just one year ago. Trust in the media and in government are at an all-time low. Meanwhile, philanthropy is investing in nonprofit news more than ever, while traditionally underserved communities across the country – including Black Americans in smaller markets and rural towns — are in urgent need for better access to trustworthy information. Now is the time to connect these threads.
How do we ensure donors understand the important role nonprofit newsrooms can play at this moment in history? INN members are critical to reimagining a democracy that works for more Americans. Through data collection, powerful storytelling, and higher member engagement, INN can help facilitate a shift in the way funders understand the impact of the work our newsrooms do. INN can provide space and resources to help members find unique ways to tell the story of our impact, drawing lines from our work to higher civic engagement, more accountability for people in power, and stronger bonds in the communities we serve.
Strong Suit 1) problem-framing and analysis, 2) strategy 3) plans, tactics and execution
As Chief Audience Officer of Capital B, my day-to-day responsibilities center around strategy to reach our key audience of Black Americans both nationally and within our local markets. Co-founding a Black nonprofit news organization during a pandemic required a fluid strategy that stayed true to our values.
As Capital B continues to grow, we’re expanding into new markets, opening newsrooms in cities that may not seem obvious to the average person (e.g. Gary, Indiana) but feeds into our overall strategy to offer trusted news to Black communities that the industry is currently undeserving. We are not only working to build a strong Black news organization that brings real value to Black communities, but we’re also strategizing to ensure this organization is financially sound and will be around for the long haul.
Organizations must be adept at creating specific strategies to meet their specific audiences’ needs, and at Capital B, we’ve brought strategic thinking to everything we do, from our branding to our community engagement efforts to our events business. What’s key is knowing when and how to shift your strategy, and I look forward to helping organizations identify these moments to help their organization flourish.
Corinne Colbert
Co-Founder & Editor-in-Chief
The Athens County Independent
Watch Corinne Colbert’s candidate video.
How many years have you led an INN member organization? 1 year
Endorsed by:
Dana Coester, Editor at 100 Days in Appalachia
We are happy to endorse Corinne for a position on the INN board. Her work with the Athens Independent is vital to the citizens of Athens County and the southeastern Ohio region. The Indy’s work is excellent and provides fairness and depth of coverage local residents need.
Tim Marema, Editor at Daily Yonder
The field of nonprofit news has made extraordinary progress in the last 10 years, but it’s far more established in major markets than in smaller communities. INN needs leaders like Corinne, who created a successful news organization for a rural region, to help ensure we build bridges and support the information needs of small-market communities.
Bio
Corinne Colbert began working as a journalist right out of high school as an intern at the Martins Ferry Times-Leader in eastern Ohio. She worked in newsrooms in Wheeling WV, Marietta OH and Marysville OH before joining the Ohio Historical Society’s communications department. When her husband entered graduate school in northern Ohio, Corinne embarked on a 10-year stint as a freelance writer and editor. She later joined the publications staff of the National Business Incubation Association, overseeing member communications and book publishing. She returned to the newsroom in 2021 as editor of the Athens (Ohio) News; her firing after eight months gained national attention, which she leveraged into $18,000 in crowdfunding to start the Athens County Independent in rural southeastern Ohio with three former newsroom colleagues.
Since its launch in April 2022, the Independent has gained $86,000 in grant support, $53,000 in individual donations and more than 2,400 subscribers. The Independent was a finalist in the Future of News division of the 2022 Next Challenge and recently progressed to stage 3 of Indiegraf’s News Startup Fund.
Corinne lives in rural Athens County, Ohio, with her husband, two college-aged sons and a miniature bull terrier named Grizzly.
Engagement with INN
The Independent has benefited most significantly from its participation in NewsMatch. In our first campaign, we earned almost $25,000 in donations and $19,000 in matching and incentive funding. We are proud members of the Rural News Network. Throughout our development, we have relied on INN resources such as training webinars, the News Giving Roadmap, the member Listserv and INN’s Slack channels.
Skills & Experience Offered
My professional experience encompasses not only journalism but also marketing, education, entrepreneurship and project management. The thread running through all my work is a passion for finding, packaging and presenting information to resonate with key audiences and achieve organizational goals. These diverse experiences also give me a broader perspective on the challenges facing journalism — and, more importantly, how to address them.
Network-building has been key to the Independent’s success to date. Local news is one of the pillars of a strong community, and partnerships with community stakeholders in philanthropy, education and business help to build strong newsrooms (and associations!).
Vision for the Role
I’m co-founder of a digital local news startup in rural America. As such, I represent two ends of a spectrum: the fastest-growing segment of INN membership and the parts of the U.S. that are most at-risk of losing local news. Rural areas and small markets like mine desperately need independent local news, yet face unique challenges in accessing relevant resources and in achieving sustainability. Stratifying INN Index data by stage and market was an excellent first step in recognizing that one size does not fit all. As INN grows, it must continue to develop resources and solutions — such as the Rural News Network — that reflect the disparities between markets. INN also can play a role in advocating for support for small outlets with major funders such as the Press Forward initiative.
Strong Suit 1) problem-framing and analysis, 2) strategy 3) plans, tactics and execution
Probably plans, tactics and execution. Defining problems and strategizing can be fun, but I’d much rather take a strategy and figure out how to implement it. It’s what I do every day as an editor. It’s also the stage most conducive to creative thinking.
Ramona Giwargis
Co-Founder & CEO
San José Spotlight
How many years have you led an INN member organization? 5 years
Endorsed by:
Jon Ralston, CEO at The Nevada Independent
Ramona took a vague idea in her head a few years ago and has turned the Spotlight into a concrete force of journalism in NorCal. Her relentlessness and determination are unmatched, and she also is thoughtful and honest. INN would be lucky to have her on the board.
Katherine Rowlands, President & Executive Director at Local News Matters
Ramona Giwargis has committed herself to the ideals of independent, high-quality coverage of community news. She would be an excellent advocate for publishers and newsrooms seeking to do the same.
Bio
My name is Ramona Giwargis and I’m the co-founder and CEO of San José Spotlight. I’m an award-winning news leader with nearly 15 years of journalism experience across Northern California and Nevada. More than five years ago I quit my full-time reporting job in Las Vegas and convinced my husband to join me in launching a nonprofit newsroom to serve our hometown. Despite being the third largest city in California, the city of San Jose — the heart of Silicon Valley — has faced a local news crisis. Our legacy newspaper is owned by a hedge-fund that’s slashed newsroom jobs over the past decade. My partner and I took a leap of faith into nonprofit journalism because we saw a critical need — and now we serve a county of nearly 2 million people with public service journalism that sparks civic engagement and makes a significant impact in our community.
As an Assyrian immigrant, I’m especially passionate about equity in journalism — particularly in leadership positions — and creating a sustainable newsroom that allows reporters to uplift voices of marginalized communities, expose wrongdoing and shed light on injustice.
Engagement with INN
We have participated in several INN training labs and workshops, including those sponsored by GNI and focused on topics such as major donor cultivation, fundamentals of fundraising, audience growth, etc.
Skills & Experience Offered
As a nonprofit news leader in California, I bring a unique perspective about the funding challenges nonprofit newsrooms in the West Coast face — and how we can bridge gaps in philanthropic support. I have the proven ability to build a network of support, advocate for the nonprofit news industry across the country and seek out untapped sources of financial support. I do that everyday in my work at San José Spotlight. INN and its network of newsrooms will benefit from the leadership and vision of a woman of color from the country’s most populous state.
Vision for the Role
One of the most prevalent challenges in the nonprofit news sector is isolation, burnout and lack of support for founders and executive leadership. I’ve spoken to CEOs and founders from newsrooms serving small towns of a couple thousand people to metros serving millions of residents and they all have one thing in common — they are burned out. They are exhausted. They feel unsupported. They’re on the verge of quitting. I’d like to tap into how we can support founders at the ground level, perhaps through regional or statewide support groups or peer mentorship programs. It’s important that this support is localized; what works in Texas might not work in California. A one-size-fits-all approach isn’t enough. Virtual labs, trainings and written materials help — but they don’t provide enough personalized support and can feel burdensome to an already stretched-thin founder.
It’s important that we share resources in philanthropy as well — without gatekeeping information that can help each other. I’d like to consider creating a network of philanthropy sources and insights for journalism foundations we’re all trying to secure funding from. This helps us begin to build relationships with program officers and become cheerleaders for one another, especially at a time where there’s unprecedented investment in our industry (such as Press Forward).
Strong Suit 1) problem-framing and analysis, 2) strategy 3) plans, tactics and execution
I would select 3 — plans, tactics and execution. My favorite part is execution. In our organization, we act fast and don’t get stuck in “analysis paralysis” for too long. We map out plans and ideas — whether for a new fundraising campaign, a website redesign or expansion to new Bay Area cities — and we quickly create milestones and jump in. We continue to iterate on our ideas, learn from our shortcomings and invest feedback from our team, readers, board members and donors.
Yoni Greenbaum
Chief Operating Officer
Lehigh Valley Public Media
Watch Yoni Greenbaum’s candidate video
How many years have you led an INN member organization? 6 years
Endorsed by:
Ron Hetrick, President & CEO at WITF
As a leader at a dynamic and innovative public media organization, Yoni Greenbaum would make an excellent board member at the Institute for Nonprofit News. Yoni has a demonstrated track record of designing sustainable news products that engage and reflect the audience diversity of a region and uplift all voices in a community.
Carla McCabe, President & CEO at WVIA
I am pleased to recommend Yoni Greenbaum as a board member for the Institute for Nonprofit News. Yoni’s experience and perspective is perfectly aligned with the mission of INN. The development and creation of Lehigh Valley News was the brainchild of Yoni and his team at WLVT after a great deal of listening to the needs of his local community. This shared experience in non profit news would be invaluable to INN.
Bio
Yoni is a highly accomplished media leader with over 25 years of experience. He is currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer at Lehigh Valley Public Media (LVPM), and oversees PBS39, 91.3 WLVR Radio, and LehighValleyNews.com. His career is marked by numerous accolades, including national and regional Emmy awards and Edward R. Murrow awards for multi-platform work.
During his tenure at LVPM, he oversaw significant growth, expanding the team from 25 to nearly 100 employees. Under his leadership, LVPM launched six weekly television programs, including the Emmy-winning “Counter Culture.” Yoni’s most notable achievement was the creation of the PBS39 Reporter Corps and the launch of “PBS39 News Tonight,” which became the market leader at 11pm.
Recognizing the need for change, Yoni conducted research leading to the establishment of LehighValleyNews.com in 2022, aimed at delivering high-quality local news to northeastern Pennsylvania.
Prior to LVPM, Yoni held key positions at NBCUniversal and Telemundo, where he was recognized for innovative local journalism during the early days of the opioid epidemic. As Vice-President and General Manager, Digital at the Philadelphia Media Network, he increased digital revenue, reduced costs and introduced new revenue streams, including pioneering a digital tablet and subscription program and launching Philly Dealyo.
Yoni’s diverse career also included a role at Dow Jones, where he focused on online content development and strategy. His career began as an editorial assistant at New York Newsday in the 1980s.
Engagement with INN
As an organization, we have participated in NewsMatch and INN Index as well as leveraged the resources available through the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Hub as well as the resources available through peer communities be that around philanthropy or general operations. The listserve is what we most heavily used and valued, if for nothing else, then the relationships that they have helped foster.
Skills & Experience Offered
Electing me to the INN board will enhance the organization’s capabilities and governance in several ways. With over 25 years of experience as a leader in various media sectors, including digital, broadcast, and print, I bring a wealth of knowledge and skills that can benefit INN.
As the COO at Lehigh Valley Public Media (LVPM), I have been instrumental in reshaping public media’s sustainability model, emphasizing the importance of high-quality, trusted local journalism. This experience positions me to contribute strategic insights into nonprofit news leadership, especially in the context of evolving media landscapes.
My track record includes successfully leading an organizational expansion, developing innovative television programs, and spearheading initiatives like the PBS39 Reporter Corps. I have a demonstrated ability to adapt and respond to changing audience preferences, as exemplified by the creation of LehighValleyNews.com after extensive research.
Furthermore, my experience in the nonprofit sector extends beyond media. I have experience in philanthropy and have crafted strategies for revenue generation, which may provide valuable perspectives to INN’s sustainability efforts.
Having served on the board of the Newspaper Association of America’s Digital Advisory Committee, I am well-versed in the dynamics of board leadership and collaboration within industry associations. My experience in contract negotiations, business development and digital audience development will also contribute to INN’s growth and impact.
In summary, I bring a unique combination of media expertise, nonprofit leadership and innovation to the board. My ability to navigate the evolving media landscape, drive sustainability and leverage diverse revenue streams will strengthen INN’s mission.
Vision for the Role
To me it feels that all too often, while we may be swimming in the same ocean, we are not always aware of those swimming around or even near us. We are so busy focusing on our own strokes, our own gear, our own course that we fail to recognize the lessons that we can learn, the shared opportunities that we could build upon that unity that we could leverage.
I think the INN staff has done a remarkable job helping with networking and with some vendor assistance/bulk subscription deals, etc. I would like to see if we can expand or grow upon that. I would want to work with the staff to hopefully provide greater vendor access and attempt to use my experience and relationships to see if we could secure network details that would benefit all.
I see a lot of struggles around business models. I wonder if we could provide greater support around business model development, projections, potholes, speedbumps, etc. There is much that we can learn from each other. One possibility is that Board members could serve as “visiting doctors”- taking learnings and best practices on the road, helping to spread the gospel and provide support and encouragement.
Strong Suit 1) problem-framing and analysis, 2) strategy 3) plans, tactics and execution
While I am fortunate that my professional experience has included problem-framing and analysis, strategy and plans, tactics and execution, in this case, I would offer that I might be of best service to INN and the membership by focusing on strategy.
I offer that as a focus area because it is where my attention has been for the past six years as I have worked to rebuild Lehigh Valley Public Media. Strategy is what I am currently eating, drinking and breathing. Strategy, and everything that goes into it, is what I dream about when I go to sleep at night.
I believe that too many organizations stumble or even fail because of the lack of a cohesive and comprehensive strategy. They fail to see the value of research and are too comfortable believing that they know what is best for their consumers. I saw this in the newspaper industry when every afternoon four, usually, white men, would select the front-page stories that their diverse readership would find of interest, only to complain the next day when the papers did not sell. We took nearly two years to build, test and refine the five-year model for LehighValleyNews.com. Because of that work and the other strategic decisions that we have made, we are on track. I look forward to helping INN and others to be able to experience this as well.
Ilan Greenberg
Publisher & Editorial Director
Coda Story
How many years have you led an INN member organization? 8 years
Endorsed by:
Alex Lash, Editor & Co-Founder at The Frisc
Ilan has been an inspiration and invaluable sounding board for me as I’ve built The Frisc from scratch into a vital news source for San Francisco. I often lean on Ilan’s depth and breadth of knowledge, from running an international nonprofit newsroom with integrity, to making difficult business and strategic decisions, to fundraising with persistence.
Emily Holden, Founder & Executive Director at Floodlight
Ilan is committed to creating a robust, vibrant, diverse, and welcoming nonprofit news space that looks unflinching at our biggest challenges. His combination of editorial concerns and revenue focus in a member newsroom that takes a global perspective will be a huge asset for INN.
Bio
Ilan Greenberg is publisher and editorial director of Coda Story. He co-founded Coda in 2016. He has been a foreign correspondent in East and Central Asia and has reported from every inhabited continent. He lives in Washington, D.C. His responsibilities include editorial development as well as hands-on editing, fundraising, business development, and one-time projects
Engagement with INN
Coda Story has participated in News Match and our staff have attended INN Days. We have participated in the INN-sponsored fellowship program.
Skills & Experience Offered
Since inception, I’ve helped lead Coda leap from a $60,000 pilot project to a $1.4 million newsroom. The journey has been arduous –and revelatory. I bring a sustained encounter with developing the revenue streams that nonprofit journalism must metabolize to thrive: foundation outreach, productizing our editorial for earned income, membership, and events.
I believe that my experience as the leader of a newsroom with global editorial scope, an international audience, and a crossborder staff –from New Delhi to the Bay Area– provides a valuable context and perspective to our challenges as North American media. I would seek to forge communication, partnerships and relationships with public-interest and nonprofit media abroad. I am highly invested in the promise of collaborative relationships –with each other, and also with independent newsrooms outside of INN’s membership roster. And with non-journalism organizations such as universities and think tanks stemming from my experience in journalism education: I taught a global affairs writing course over Bard College for five years, until 2020.
Vision for the Role
I have a strong interest in board of director formation and an often vexing prospect for young nonprofit newsrooms. It’s a crucible for INN member success and an area that I would look to make a substantial contribution in fostering INN services and support.
I would work toward expanding INN as a collaborative platform for members, with each other and with organizations that can amplify our fundraising and those that can aid our editorial execution. INN provides convening so that we communicate with each other — INN can also play a pivotal role in enabling us to work collaboratively.
I think the INN board members who work in INN member organizations have the potential –and really the duty– to convey the voices of member organization staff, the rank and file– to INN staff, so that there is a substantial understanding of their needs and sentiments. The more INN staff encounter the talented people who do the work of nonprofit news, the more effective the organization will become.
Strong Suit 1) problem-framing and analysis, 2) strategy 3) plans, tactics and execution
I believe my strongest contribution to INN’s mission is in providing problem-framing and analysis. Solution-seeking is not the only approach to tackling key challenges but it’s one that I do well with and have a track record of success in applying to thorny issues.
I enjoy the process of peeling back a problem to understand its components. I am methodical in fact-gathering, in listening to stakeholders (and non-stakeholders who bring valuable perspectives), identifying competing values, and anticipating roadblocks and surprise scenarios.
This question presents something of a false choice –under different circumstances and facing various issues, I think everyone shifts their approach and roles. I would hope to be nimble in how I am able to support membership, and be responsive to feedback on what would be most helpful.
David Greising
President & CEO
Better Government Association
How many years have you led an INN member organization? 5 years
Endorsed by:
Jeff Rogers, Editor at Capitol News Illinois
Under David Greising’s leadership, BGA has significantly strengthened its commitment to accountable government by creating the Illinois Answers Project, which publishes investigative and solutions journalism. The BGA’s work to embed reporters in communities underserved by their local, traditional media; and its efforts to collaborate with an increasing number of news outlets like Capitol News Illinois are the kinds of proactive steps all INN members should consider. David would be a strong, innovative presence on the INN board. I fully endorse his candidacy.
Shamus Toomey, Publisher & Co-Founder at Block Club Chicago
I endorse David Greising of the Better Government Association and its Illinois Answers Project for the INN Board. Illinois Answers, which has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, is an invaluable source of information — and solutions — for Chicago and the State of Illinois, and a great partner with so many other Chicago newsrooms.
Bio
David Greising is the president and chief executive of the Better Government Association, joining the BGA in 2018. For 100 years, the BGA has fought for honest, equitable and effective government through investigative journalism and fighting for access to public records. Under Greising’s leadership, the BGA won its first Pulitzer Prize, for local reporting, in 2022.
Greising’s career started at the City News Bureau of Chicago, with stops at the Chicago Sun-Times, Business Week magazine, the Chicago Tribune and Reuters, where he was Midwest bureau chief. He was a co-founder of the Chicago News Cooperative, an early digital startup, and worked briefly as a consultant to World Business Chicago. A former business columnist and global business correspondent while at the Tribune, Greising today writes on government issues in regular opinion columns for the paper.
Greising has fostered transformative change at the BGA. In 2022, the organization received a $10 million commitment from the Robert R. McCormick Foundation to launch an innovative strategy, the Illinois Solutions Plan. The funding is supporting a major investment in solutions-focused reporting, published by the BGA’s new website, Illinois Answers Project.
The BGA won its Pulitzer for reporting about City of Chicago negligence that led to 61 fire deaths over a five-year period. The BGA’s policy team in 2022 drafted an ethics reform program that Chicago’s City Council passed into law.
A graduate of DePauw University, Greising with his wife Cynthia Hedges Greising are parents to three adult children and residents of Evanston, Illinois.
Engagement with INN
We served on the steering committee of the Catchlight Local Chicago Initiative, which provided photography to the websites of the BGA and other nonprofit news organizations in Chicago. This enhanced the quality of collaborative projects pursued with other INN members.
We participated in the INN-sponsored Lens on Lightfoot project, which provided in-depth coverage of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s term in office. INN members Block Club Chicago, La Raza, The TRiiBE, Chalkbeat Chicago, The Daily Line and the Chicago Reporter jointly reported and published deep-dive stories about the high-profile new mayor.
While BGA is too large to qualify as a Newsmatch recipient, we have used the messaging around Newsmatch as an opportunity to raise awareness and financial resources.
Skills & Experience Offered
As head of the Better Government Organization I have sought to make the century-old BGA into a leader in the cutting-edge and fast-changing Chicago news ecosystem. Lessons from our work—about the power of partnerships, the ability to operate statewide, the promise of solutions journalism and the value of a thoughtfully developed fundraising strategy—would help me contribute to the INN board.
As an INN board member, I would be an advocate for experimentation and cooperation among members, and a resource for strategies that will help all INN members adapt to the challenges and opportunities of this fast-changing news environment.
The collaborative and competitive Chicago news ecosystem is a petri dish of experimentation for the future of journalism, in which I have led the BGA’s efforts to be an effective and supportive partner. For example, we won our Pulitzer in 2022 with a collaborative project published with the Chicago Tribune.
Our new Illinois Answers Project website added a major solutions journalism initiative to the BGA’s historic deep-dive investigations, and our new “embed” strategy–which provides investigative and solutions reporters to work with legacy news organizations statewide—is a scalable model other INN members could adopt. A new civic engagement staff is working collaboratively with partner news organizations, expanding the reach and impact of all of our work.
Altogether, our innovative strategy has attracted more than $12 million in new commitments from foundations over the last three years, while expanding our base of small and large individual donors.
Vision for the Role
INN has contributed to making Chicago one of the centers of innovation and accomplishment in this crucially important period in the history of journalism. The Catchlight and Lens on Lightfoot initiatives, sponsored by INN, promoted collaboration and a commitment to substantive journalism that has helped set the tone for a period of experimentation and growth among the city’s journalism nonprofits. The work is not done, and more innovation is needed—not just in Chicago, but across the country.
As an INN board member, I would encourage the organization to continue developing the power of partnerships—the ability for news organizations to leverage each others’ resources to produce great journalism that reaches a diverse array of audiences and is inclusive both in terms of communities that we knowledgeably cover and the reporters who are covering them.
Moreover, INN can and should focus more of our resources on helping member organizations develop earned revenue, small-donor contributions, sponsorship or advertising sales and other attributes that will help us build a sustainable business model for nonprofit journalism. I would advocate for INN to emphasize initiatives such as this and would seek to build an INN business plan that would enable us to staff up adequately to provide the support needed by member organizations nationwide.
Strong Suit 1) problem-framing and analysis, 2) strategy 3) plans, tactics and execution
I was a business columnist at the Chicago Tribune when Sam Zell bought the paper, and as the beginning of an exit strategy I wrote a book about private equity and venture capital. Soon after publication, I left to lead the Chicago News Cooperative, a first-phase digital startup that produced a Chicago section for The New York Times. Throughout my post-Tribune career, I have developed an ability to conceive and executive strategic plans—at World Business Chicago, where I developed a strategy for recruiting foreign investment to the city, during a year out of journalism after the CNC failed; at Reuters, where I helped design a strategy that changed the structure of the global news organization’s approach to corporate coverage, and now at the BGA, where strategies I have developed are transforming the reach and impact of a century-old news organization.
I would apply this experience and energy as a member of INN’s board, at this critical moment in the history of our profession—when the worst may be behind us, and a promising future is there for us to conceive and build. I am fortunate to have started my career at a period of “peak journalism” when papers like the Chicago Tribune had bureaus around the globe. We are at an inflection point now, where INN can help startups and legacy news organizations adapt and thrive, and reclaim our industry’s critical role in preserving and protecting democracy.
Lance Knobel
CEO
Cityside Journalism Initiative
Watch Lance Knobel’s candidate video
How many years have you led an INN member organization? 4 years
Endorsed by:
Candice Fortman, Executive Director at Outlier Media
It has been an honor to serve on Cityside’s board and learn from Lance, who keenly understands how to grow and sustain a news business and transition it as the climate changes. Lance’s work in leading Cityside to a model that can help bring journalism to communities across Northern California is part of the future of local non-profit news. He would be a valuable team member in assisting INN in supporting its member organizations and lobbying for more resources for communities nationwide.
Tanner Curl, Executive Director at Minn Post
Lance is not only the visionary co-founder and CEO of one of the most successful and exciting nonprofit news outlets in the country, he’s also a generous and thoughtful member of the INN community, always willing to share insights and support for peers across the network. It would be amazing to see him bring his leadership to the INN board.
Bio
Lance is CEO and co-founder of Cityside Journalism Initiative, the nonprofit behind Oaklandside, Berkeleyside, and, soon, Richmondside. Much of Lance’s early career was in business journalism, largely in Europe. With two other journalists he started Berkeleyside 14 years ago because they saw the absence of real news coverage in our city. They bootstrapped the newsroom for a number of years as an unprofitable for-profit. They took the decision to convert to nonprofit in 2019, renamed the organization Cityside, and launched Oaklandside in 2020. Cityside is now a 28-person organization with a roughly $4 million budget. It’s committed to strengthening democracy and communities through a nonprofit local news network that’s built to serve, scale, and last.
Engagement with INN
Skills & Experience Offered
It’s a fascinating and crucial time for INN. We’ve all come to love and admire Sue Cross for her work in building INN and navigating it through so much change. Whoever her successor is has a hard act to follow, and the support and counsel of the board will be crucial to their success. I have a good track record of seeing around corners, thinking strategically, and finding viable paths through uncertain business terrain. I’ve spent much of the last 14 years building relationships around the country in local news in particular, trying to build informal communities of practice so we can all learn from each other.
Vision for the Role
INN is a vital part of our nonprofit news ecosystem. INN as an organization and its staff individually do important work in helping so many of us individually and collectively. The challenge ahead, with a new CEO and continued growth, will be to build on INN’s strengths and add resources, expertise, and services through the lens of a clear, intentional strategy. The growth in INN members offers the opportunity to do more segmentation of offerings and cohorts within INN. Although there are some areas where most of us share challenges and concerns, there are specific issues faced by, for example, city-focused newsrooms versus state-wide newsrooms; or national organizations versus ones with a very specific focus. Size and variety of members presents a chance to focus some of INN’s efforts. Similarly, there are growing opportunities for INN to encourage and support geographically tied groups of members, as has been developing over the last year with INN members in California.
Strong Suit 1) problem-framing and analysis, 2) strategy 3) plans, tactics and execution
My career has taken me through a significant variety of organizations both in the US and Europe. I’ve found in each of them that my strengths in breaking down a problem, helping create a usable frame, and then analyzing possible solutions has proved very valuable. Journalism broadly, and nonprofit journalism in particular, is a field where there are still vastly more questions than answers. We’re all trying to figure things out. I think INN can play a critical role in bringing us together, supporting our work, and helping us find some of those answers. I’d like to help catalyze and bolster that process from INN’s board.
Vandana Kumar
Publisher & CEO
India Currents Foundation
Watch Vandana Kumar’s candidate video
How many years have you led an INN member organization? 36 years
Endorsed by:
Kat Rowlands, Publisher at Bay City News
Vandana has put in the work to do strong, community-based journalism for years. She has a track record of supporting emerging journalists, building community and working collaboratively with peers to make us all better and sustainable.
Josh Barousse, Executive Director at San Jose Spotlight
I support Vandana Kumar for the INN Board of Directors. I have had the opportunity to watch Vandana and India Currents grow and become a valuable source of news in the Indian and broader community. I believe she will serve as an exemplary leader and move the values forward for our national nonprofit news community.
Bio
With a career spanning 36 years in the publishing industry, I serve as the CEO of India Currents Foundation. My journey began in 1987 when, as a new immigrant, I embarked on the adventure of founding India Currents magazine. I am very happy to say that under my guidance, the magazine earned recognition as an award-winning print publication, a status it held from April 1987 to December 2017.
In 2019, I led a transformative chapter in India Currents’ history as it transitioned into a nonprofit digital entity. Our mission is clear: to convey essential and relevant narratives that shed light on the vibrant diaspora in the Bay Area. We also take pride in providing a nurturing platform for emerging storytellers.
Our role goes beyond conventional news reporting. India Currents serves as a vital community convener, fostering connections, bridging cultural boundaries, and championing civic engagement in support of broader social justice causes. Our deep-rooted connections within the community make us a trusted messenger on critical issues.
I’m humbled to say that my contributions have not gone unnoticed. I’ve had the privilege of receiving the Asian American Hero award from the County of Santa Clara and the Leadership in Business award from the California Legislature Assembly. Additionally, I serve on the Board of the California News Publications Association and hold the title of Fellow of the American Leadership Forum. My role as President Emeritus of the DV agency Narika reflects my commitment to our community.
Engagement with INN
Over the last 3 years, I have learned so much from INN. Firstly, as a new nonprofit organization, I learned about building a reader revenue model as a new revenue stream. I made a connection with a community of my peers. I learned from their experiences.
Our business processes got streamlined with INN-provided templates for job descriptions, Diversity and inclusion statements, and annual fundraising roadmaps during NewsMatch.
I have participated in the following:
Skills & Experience Offered
Electing me to the INN board would strengthen the organization in several ways. Firstly, I bring a wealth of experience in the nonprofit leadership of an ethnic media organization serving a community of color. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted newsrooms, especially small ones like India Currents, which relied on local business advertising revenue. I realized that having diversified income streams was vital. My track record in fundraising, both from individual donors and foundations, would help INN members navigate similar challenges.
My experience in transitioning India Currents into a digital, nonprofit entity positions me well to contribute to INN’s efforts to support its members in transitioning to sustainable digital models. I understand the intricacies and challenges of making such a shift, including the importance of community engagement and reader support.
I have a deep understanding of journalism standards and ethics, having served as a leader in the industry for over three decades.
My involvement with INN would also enhance network-building efforts. I have experience in forging partnerships and collaborations that can expand the reach and impact of nonprofit news organizations.
Lastly, my success in building a reader-supported revenue model at India Currents demonstrates my commitment to making news media more inclusive and sustainable. I believe in the importance of diverse revenue streams, and my experience in diversifying income sources, including government grants, would be beneficial to INN and its members.
I am dedicated to the mission of preserving and advancing community journalism and believe that my skills and attributes align closely with the goals of INN members.
Vision for the Role
As a prospective director of INN, my commitment would be to represent and address the unique needs of all members. It’s crucial to recognize the evolving landscape of nonprofit news organizations, particularly the significant rise in the number of local outlets, which now constitute nearly half of the nonprofit news field.
Having successfully led India Currents through the transition to a local nonprofit, I possess firsthand experience in navigating the challenges and seizing the opportunities associated with this shift. My aim is to serve as a valuable resource and advocate for INN members at different stages of this journey, ensuring that no member feels isolated or unsupported.
To enact positive change, enhance support, and improve INN’s value to its members, I would collaborate closely with the dedicated staff. Many members, overwhelmed by the demands of day-to-day operations, may not fully harness the wealth of resources and opportunities that INN offers. I envision working hand-in-hand with the staff to bolster outreach efforts, forging personal connections with members, and making proactive outreach calls. This approach will foster a deeper sense of belonging and empower members to maximize the benefits of their membership.
I believe that INN should remain committed to advancing diversity and inclusivity within this sector. This commitment extends not only to supporting diverse newsrooms but also actively involving them in leadership roles within the organization.
Strong Suit 1) problem-framing and analysis, 2) strategy 3) plans, tactics and execution
My strongest suit among the three roles of directors is undoubtedly plans, tactics, and execution.
My experience leading a small newsroom at India Currents has honed my ability to excel in this domain. In such a resource-constrained environment, we often didn’t have the luxury of extensive problem-framing and analysis. Instead, we had to be nimble and highly tactical. We would make rudimentary plans and then put our efforts into executing those plans. It was a trial-and-error approach where we tested hypotheses by implementing them. This hands-on approach allowed us to learn valuable lessons, both from our successes and from the periodic spectacular failures.
I firmly believe that the ability to take strategic ideas and translate them into actionable plans and effective execution is essential, especially in the ever-evolving media landscape. It’s not just about having a vision; it’s about knowing how to bring that vision to life, adapt to challenges, and make informed decisions on the ground.
I have extensive experience with building the right technology stack for an organization having analyzed cost/benefit ratios for many platforms. This is valuable for any early-stage organization. I understand the importance of efficient resource allocation, creative problem-solving, and the value of learning from both successes and setbacks.
This background uniquely positions me to contribute significantly to the role of plans, tactics, and execution to support and advance the goals of INN and its member organizations.
Barbara Petersen
Executive Director
FL Center for Government Accountability
How many years have you led an INN member organization? 2 years
Endorsed by:
Megan Stokes, Editor at Oviedo Community News
I have had the pleasure of working with Barbara Petersen on several projects and I’ve met few people who rival her passion and tenacity for impactful, meaningful journalism. She has an amazing collaborative spirit, working well with folks in the industry to create journalism that makes a true difference in this state and beyond.
Jessica Palombo, Editorial Director at WJCT.org
I have known Barbara for over a decade, first in her role serving and advocating for the journalists of Florida as leader of the First Amendment Foundation in Tallahassee, and more recently, as a collaborator on investigative stories that her outlet, the Florida Center for Government Accountability, has reported and we have published in Jacksonville Today. Barbara is a respected voice for press freedom and access to information across the state.
Bio
I am the co-founder and chief executive officer of the Florida Center for Government Accountability, publisher of the Florida Trident. I am a first amendment and open government law attorney with 25+ years experience in nonprofit administration. Prior to my work, I was president of Florida’s First Amendment Foundation. As an advocate for the people’s right to hold their government accountable, I have spent my entire professional career protecting Florida’s constitutional right of access and supporting journalists – local, state, national and international – in their attempts to access public records needed for their reporting. My work at FAF and now FLCGA has given me a unique perspective on both journalists and the nonprofit sector. I started FLCGA with the express purpose of closing the local news gap and providing journalists at other media outlets with the expertise needed to access public records. In our two short years, FLCGA/Florida Trident has published award-winning investigative stories leading to criminal indictments, audits of questionable quasi-government organizations, and investigations of nonprofits operating in violation of state law. We seek collaborative partners for our investigative works, and have collaborated with a variety of news organizations across the state. We have assisted both state and national reporters in gaining access to public records and have filed six lawsuits against our governor and his administration for failure to comply with the public records law. To date, we have won two of those cases, forcing the release of requested records. The remaining four have yet to be adjudicated.
Engagement with INN
Skills & Experience Offered
With 25+ years in nonprofit administration, specifically small nonprofits with staffs of less than 5 and budgets under $300k, I know and understand the needs of the smaller INN members and have found creative solutions to sharing limited resources – time, people and money. I am keen on collaboration – the Florida Trident collaborates with other media outlets on at least 85% of our investigative stories. I have legal experience in first amendment and open government law, and I freely share my expertise with other journalists and media outlets.
Vision for the Role
I served on the board of the National Freedom of Information Coalition for many years, with two terms as president and also treasurer. I value the services INN provides its member and have some ideas on how to expand those services to meet the critical needs of the smaller nonprofits. I would like to see more programs that cover the practical needs of this INN members with limited resources – a team of volunteer attorneys to provide legal guidance or webinars on issues like media liability or CPAs who can provide best practices. A lot of great questions pop up on the list serve – can we follow that stream and offer expertise, either from w/in INN or outside experts, to help members better understand the issue and possible solutions?
Strong Suit 1) problem-framing and analysis, 2) strategy 3) plans, tactics and execution
I’m fairly competent on all three, but would say 3. is my strongest suit. Once the plan is identified, I am good at analyzing the plan and finding collaborative partners who support the plan and we then work together on tactics and execution. I’m working on a story now that involves a team of about a dozen media outlets across Florida – it’s complicated but by working closely with the project team, the project is evolving and getting more highly defined and better than my original idea. I strongly believe that investigative journalism is a team effort and we all need to work closely together in ensuring the news gets told to the widest possible audience.
Anne Vasquez
CEO
EdSource
Watch Anne Vasquez’s candidate video
How many years have you led an INN member organization? 2
Endorsed by:
Neil Chase, CEO at CalMatters
Anne brings the very kind of experience we need to the INN board, having experience in traditional newspaper newsrooms (where she led award-winning work), then in newspaper company management, and now in a leadership role where she’s transitioning and refreshing one of the original nonprofit news organizations. Her perspective and skills, coupled with her long history as an active leader in various industry organizations, will position her well to be an important contributor to the shaping of INN’s future.
Katherine Rowlands, Founder & CEO at Local News Matters
Anne Vasquez is a strong leader who is dedicated to providing excellent, needed coverage of issues that matter. Her vision for supporting sustainable nonprofit news at her own outlet would extend to all of us who seek to fill the news gaps in our communities.
Bio
Anne Vasquez is the CEO of the nonprofit newsroom EdSource, an influential and growing organization recognized as one of the most authoritative sources of education reporting in a state with the nation’s largest system of public education. She also is an adjunct professor of narrative writing at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Prior to joining EdSource, Vasquez was an executive at Tribune Publishing, where she served as senior vice president of strategic initiatives and chief digital officer. She previously was managing editor of the South Florida Sun Sentinel when the newsroom won its first Pulitzer Prize, the Gold Medal for Public Service. Vasquez began her career as a reporter at The Miami Herald, San Jose Mercury News and The Boston Globe. She has been a passionate champion of diversity and inclusion in media, early in her career as the editor of one of the country’s first race & demographics teams and later as an executive. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two children and beagle.
Engagement with INN
Skills & Experience Offered
I’ve spent the last five years of my 27-year career in the news business focused on growing the footprint and impact of nonprofit news. Trying to solve the problems that the news industry has long faced has felt more manageable in these years working from within a nonprofit newsroom whose staff is nimble and rowing in the same direction – without the corporate pressures and constraints that had become all-too-familiar in my career.
EdSource is by far the smallest news organization I’ve ever worked in, but it’s also the newsroom that has made the most impact. There’s tremendous power that comes with being able to focus on producing important journalism and getting it in front of the widest audience possible, where collaborations are encouraged and our currency is impact and trust. In my two years at the helm of EdSource, we’ve undergone a 10-month strategic planning process that will guide the organization into its next chapter. We’ve recently launched the California Education News Network with funding from Google News Initiative, a project that began to form over the pandemic. And we’ve made meaningful headway on a number of internal initiatives – including a reexamination of our employee benefits – that will position the organization for growth and a level of operational maturity unseen in its 47 years.
Vision for the Role
Over the past year, I have become incredibly knowledgeable in the necessary scaffolding work of maturing a nonprofit news organization. There’s so much that INN members must consider when looking to maintain employee engagement while also positioning their organizations to be able recruit the workforce of the future. Change management is never easy, but it’s crucial to the sustainability of an organization. Finding new ways to share knowledge on operations matters among INN members would be high on my list. If we don’t have that scaffolding in place, our journalism will suffer. From a strategic planning perspective at EdSource, it has been refreshing to make decisions against the backdrop of our strategic plan, which we as a team and board developed to encompass short-term, mid-term and long-term goals.
Strong Suit 1) problem-framing and analysis, 2) strategy 3) plans, tactics and execution
All three are necessary in order to institute change, so I feel strongly that I’ve had plenty of experience identifying a problem, formulating a strategy to address it and then taking action to execute the change. However, I believe that my greatest value lies in execution. In the span of my career, the successes and failures have all rested on execution. I’ve come to understand that a well-framed idea and strategy are only as good as their execution. Being able to break down a project into digestible phases and capturing consensus as part of collaboration has been key to many projects and issues I’ve undertaken as a nonprofit leader.
Tony Winton
President & Editor-in-Chief
Key Biscayne Independent
Watch Tony Winton’s candidate video
How many years have you led an INN member organization?
Endorsed by:
Andrew Pantazi, Editor at The Tributary
Tony is the type of person who I want to see on the INN board. His experience as a journalist, a union organizer and the leader of his own hyperlocal newsroom, paired with his humanity and grace, makes him an adept representative for the INN membership on the board.
Steve Schewe, CEO & Publisher at Eden Prairie Local News
As the publisher of Eden Prairie Local News, I would trust Tony to represent the interests of emerging hyperlocal newspubs like ours. The Key Biscayne Independent shares a lot in common with EPLN — Tony has the leadership skills, enthusiasm, and positive spirit to contribute effectively the INN board.
Bio
TONY WINTON is the founder of Miami Fourth Estate and the Key Biscayne Independent, where he serves as president and editor-in-chief. Winton has worked in radio, print, and television for more than 30 years. As Southeast Regional Reporter for Associated Press in Miami, he covered a mix of global and local stories ranging from wars and hurricanes to presidential campaigns and environmental coverage. He is a graduate of Columbia University and a former leader of the News Media Guild, the union representing AP, EFE, Guardian, and other journalists.
Engagement with INN
We have participated in INN Days, NewsMatch, Technical analysis, development training, and have benefited from earned revenue information collected by INN.
Skills & Experience Offered
I am a believer in team building to achieve goals, working on a deep consensus model. As the leader of two different nonprofits, I recruited and worked with volunteers where training was a key component for equipping our supporters. In a national labor union, we worked for fair compensation, work conditions, and professional journalism standards. At church, I helped with capital campaigns and a major program shift and technology shift. In both cases, identifying the next generation of leadership was a critical component. Aside from multimedia content skills, I excel in helping analyze complex data and analyzing challenges and solutions to help formulate policy and action.
Vision for the Role
While no one can be everything to all people or all newsrooms, INN has done a great job identifying a common core of issues all organizations face. I think that as INN develops resources, it might be able to specialize in terms of services and resources for different types of news operations, based not only on size but overlapping needs. This could range from pooled service contracts to even shared employees in some cases. There is strength in numbers: let’s use it.
Strong Suit 1) problem-framing and analysis, 2) strategy 3) plans, tactics and execution
I have skills in all three areas, but analysis that is focused on understanding a particular issue or problem is probably my strongest suit. Throughout my career, I have had to make a quick study of a situation – often a news story – and figure out what was needed to get the job done, be it logistics, access, workspace, etc. At INN, correct problem description and analysis of the specific driving forces or factors then flows into the strategy and tactics steps.
For example, a hyper-local newsroom faces very different challenges than a national organization, ranging the whole gamut of recruiting, reporting, and funding. We would identify in detail these problems and the forces (causes) that are the drivers of problems and solutions — then develop strategy and tactics as we get input from members.
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