February 3, 2025
The Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Paulina Velasco as the new Collaborations Project Manager. In this role, Paulina will work closely with INN’s Director of Collaborative and Rural Initiatives Alana Rocha and with members of the Rural News Network (RNN) to develop and execute high-impact investigative reporting series that will be republished nationwide.
Paulina brings a decade of experience as a multilingual journalist based in California, with expertise in audio production, editing, print and on-air feature writing. Her recent investigation for INN member Feet in 2 Worlds, WNYC, NAHJ’s palabra, and the Puente News Collaborative uncovered how disinformation narratives target Latinos on Spanish-language radio.
“There are not many people that can straddle being a reporter and a leader,” said Joanne Griffith, chief content officer at American Public Media. “Paulina is a phenomenal collaborator. She has the ability to see things from different points of view, find the common thread and steer people accordingly.”
Her written work delves into the immigrant experience in the U.S., with articles published in outlets like The Guardian. Notably, her reporting on conditions faced by asylum seekers in open-air detention centers was cited in a complaint to the Department of Homeland Security filed by humanitarian groups. Additionally, her enterprise reporting on a COVID-19 outbreak among garment workers in downtown Los Angeles in 2020 contributed to renewed calls for workers’ rights.
As a seasoned audio producer and editor, Paulina has launched and managed numerous shows, including the inaugural season of “100 Latina Birthdays,” an audio documentary series about Latina health in the U.S. She has produced a popular interview show for Latinas, a weekly political show for women of color in the U.S. and an original podcast for the Oprah Winfrey Network. Her audio production experience spans public radio stations such as INN member KQED, KCRW, and Marketplace, as well as podcasts with Crooked, Paradiso/Binge Audio, and Slate.
“Throughout her career, Paulina has demonstrated not only a deep commitment to impactful journalism but also a rare ability to bring people together around ambitious storytelling,” said Alana Rocha, INN’s director of collaborative and rural initiatives. “We’re beyond excited to welcome her to INN and can’t wait to see how she helps elevate our editorial collaborations.”
In her new role at INN, Paulina will leverage her extensive experience to foster collaborative investigative projects within RNN and the membership at large, amplifying the reach and impact of nonprofit journalism across the country. Members are encouraged to connect with Paulina at paulina@inn.org to explore opportunities for impactful storytelling.
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