September 26, 2022

As membership in the Institute for Nonprofit News has grown to more than 400 nonprofit news organizations in 2022, INN has broadened its membership strategy to include not only growing the number of newsrooms and the sustainability of individual members but also deepening connections among the members and building the collective impact of the INN Network. INN’s new director of member network engagement, Bia Medious, is tasked with ensuring that member newsrooms draw exceptional experiences and value from their membership –  enabling them to help fulfill INN’s overarching mission to provide credible news to people in every community.

At INN, Medious will lead the strategic growth and diversification of the INN Network, deepen network engagement and implement systems to support that growth. She will manage the membership team, expand collective actions and measure impact.

“Bia stood out in an extremely talented field for both the way she conceived of and articulated the role, as well as for her commitment to listening and engaging with INN’s members and growing the field,” said Jonathan Kealing, INN’s Chief Network Officer. “She jumped right in to help us successfully present the Nonprofit News Awards and I’m excited for her to have a chance to bring that attitude to all she does.”

Prior to joining INN, Bia spent five years working as an investigative journalist and narrative audio producer for service-oriented media organizations like City Bureau and WBEZ. She has a background in both secondary education and political organizing, giving her a deep knowledge of the concerns of audiences served by INN member newsrooms. 

“Organizing INN members to expand their impact, while simultaneously strengthening democracy is an honor,” said Medious. “I’m excited to join INN and help build relationships among our nonprofit newsrooms.”

Medious will work with Devon Dunkle, INN’s membership coordinator to grow and support the INN Network. She replaces Michelle Morgante, who left INN this summer to launch a new nonprofit newsroom in her home town of Merced, Calif. 

Based in Chicago, Medious is co-chair of the Chicago New Leaders Council, a national nonprofit that provides cross-sector changemakers with place-based training and a national network of support. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and in 2017 completed an M.S. in journalism at Northwestern.

When she’s not working, Medious enjoys taking her family and pandemic pup (now two) to explore nature.