Javascript must be enabled for the correct page display
Could you or someone you know be a great nonprofit news leader?
INN is committed to building and empowering this next generation. We formed the Emerging Leaders Council (ELC) in 2017 to identify, connect, coach and retain the diverse leaders who will innovate and strengthen nonprofit news over the next decade. The Emerging Leaders Council (ELC) provides participants with individualized coaching as they complete a project for their news organization while also boosting their leadership skills and connections across the field. People who have benefited from the program include:
Those rising into leadership positions for the first time
Experienced leaders who are new to nonprofit news
Leaders of small and midsize nonprofit news organizations who want to expand their skill set and forge connections across the field.
If you have questions about the program, please email Sara Shahriari .
Emerging Leaders Alumni
These leaders represent the excellence and diversity of nonprofit news organizations working to inform communities through factual journalism and build philanthropic support for news. Positions are those held at the time of their participation in the program.
Class of 2023, listed from top left to right:
LaTrina Antoine , editor-in-chief, American Witness
Jina Chung , executive director, Making Contact
Thalia Henderson , director of development, EdSource
Nina Misuraca Ignaczak , founder and editor, Planet Detroit
Jenny Jacklin-Stratton, managing editor, CatchLight
Zsuzsanna Lippai , chief operations and strategy officer, The Fuller Project
Anna Massoglia, editorial and investigations manager, OpenSecrets
Kate Miller , director of major gifts, The Intercept
Daniel Nichanian , editor-in-chief, Bolts
Inae Oh, senior news and engagement editor, Mother Jones
Alyia Paulding , membership and development manager, PublicSource
Jada Pulley , operations manager, MinnPost
Teresa Tauchi, chief operating officer, Prison Journalism Project
Courtney Teague , newsletter editor, Honolulu Civil Beat
Michelle Williams , growth and partnerships director, Capital B
Richard Young , founder and executive director, CivicLex
Read about the 16 news professionals in the 2023 cohort .
Class of 2022, listed from top left to right:
Deana Balinton , Civic Partnership Manager, El Tímpano
Angela Saavedra , Audience Development Leader, El Paso Matters
Kassie Kelly , Membership Manager, The Texas Tribune
Ryan Sorrell , Founding Editor, The Kansas City Defender
Will Schick , Editor-In-Chief, Street Sense Media
Miriam Valverde , Deputy Editor, Politifact
Bevin Christie , Project Manager, News 414
Tanner Curl , Executive Director, MinnPost
Cassie Young , Director, Grey Matter Media/Matter News
Dan Weissmann , Founder and Host, An Arm and a Leg
Keri Mitchell , Founder and Executive Director, Dallas Free Press
Emily Churchill , Director of Operations, Religion News Service
Shazdeh Omari , Director of Development, Global Press
Safeena Dhalla , Director of Operations and Impact, The Narwhal
Jacob Fries , Executive Director, InvestigateWest
Read about the 15 news professionals in the 2022 cohort .
Class of 2021, listed from top left to right:
Zenobia Jeffreys Warfield , Executive Editor, YES! Magazine
Yukari Kane , Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director, Prison Journalism Project
Nathalie Applewhite , Strategic Director of Development, Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting
Julián Aguilar , Editor, El Paso Matters
Georgiana Ausan , Assistant Director, Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance
Bethanie Glaser , Chief of Staff, Chalkbeat
Sumi Aggarwal , Interim Editor in Chief, Reveal
Kristine Villanueva , Project Editor, Resolve Philadelphia
Nissa Rhee , Executive Director, Borderless Magazine
Kimberly Griffin , Founding Publisher, Mississippi Free Press
Jennifer Hack Wolf , Audience Development Manager, The Beacon
Janeen Jones , Design Editor, Center for Public Integrity
Elliott Robinson , News Editor, Charlottesville Tomorrow
You can learn more about the 2021 cohort in our blog post.
Class of 2020, listed from top left to right:
Suzanne Behnke , Executive Director and Editor, The Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism
Jahna Berry , Chief Operating Officer, Mother Jones
Annie Chabel, Chief Operating Officer, Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting
Lauchlin Fields , Audience Development Director, Mississippi Today
Mukhtar Ibrahim , Editor and Executive Editor, Sahan Journal
Judy Lin , Assistant Editor, CalMatters
Loren Lynch , Chief Revenue Officer, The Texas Observer
Corrie MacLaggan , Managing Editor, Texas Tribune
Jim Malewitz , Investigations Editor, Wisconsin Watch
Irene Romulo , Co-Founder, Cicero Independiente
Brandon Quester , Executive Editor and Director, Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
Class of 2019, listed from top left to right:
Thomas Brennan , Founder, The War Horse
Brian Calvert , Editor-in-Chief, High Country News
Candice Fortman , Chief of Engagement and Operations, Outlier Media
Lucas Grindley , Executive Director, Next City
Andrea Faye Hart , Co-Founder and Director of Community Engagement, City Bureau
Brian Hiatt , Marketing and Membership Director, Mother Jones
Kay Lima , Director, INN Labs
Byrhonda Lyons , Video Journalist, CALmatters
Asraa Mustufa , Digital Editor, The Chicago Reporter
Akoto Ofori-Atta , Managing Editor, The Trace
Tasneem Raja , Executive Editor, The Tyler Loop
Class of 2017, from top left to right:
Jim Small , Executive Director and Editor, Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
Natalie Choate , Director of Media Relations and Partnerships, Texas Tribune
Lauren Fuhrmann , Associate Director, Wisconsin Watch
Sarah Garland , Executive Editor, The Hechinger Report
Dave Levinthal , Federal Politics Editor and Senior Reporter, Center for Public Integrity
Ben Nishimoto , Director of Philanthropy, Honolulu Civil Beat
Brad Racino , Senior Reporter, Assistant Director and Director of Partnerships & Innovation, inewsource
Amber Rivera , Engagement Editor, Inside Energy
Paula Saha , Director of Audience and Donor Development, NJ Spotlight
Halle Stockton , Managing Editor, PublicSource
The Emerging Leaders Council is made possible by the generous support of the Knight Foundation.
Back to top