I help newsrooms connect with the communities they serve to make journalism more inclusive, creative and actionable. I've spent more than a decade working with media organizations to develop audience and engagement strategies online and off, along with building partnerships and orchestrating complex media collaborations.

I'm also an experienced facilitator and organizational strategist with a focus on helping newsrooms of all shapes and sizes form deeper relationships with their communities and spark change with their journalism. I've led workshops, trainings, and community events across the country with a range of partners, including the American Press Institute, The New School's Journalism + Design program and the Poynter Institute. My facilitation practice is rooted in human-centered design, systems thinking and emergent strategy.

Below, you'll find an overview of my experience. You can also find me on LinkedIn.


ENGAGEMENT LEAD
Journalism + Design, The New School
March 2018 – Present

  • Designing, organizing and facilitating workshops, trainings and resources that help journalists use the tools of systems thinking and design to approach complex problems.
  • Building partnerships and initiatives that help journalists test creative opportunities to meet local information needs and help their communities work toward equity.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CONSULTANT
January 2018 – Present

  • Helping newsrooms launch effective strategies for reaching new audiences and building deeper relationships with their communities.
  • Designing creative engagement initiatives for journalism and media that spark real-world impact.
  • Seeking sustainable opportunities for local reporting and groundbreaking storytelling.
  • Developing and executing strategic plans for media companies, universities, foundations and nonprofit organizations.

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The Center for Investigative Reporting | Emeryville, CA
October 2016 – December 2018

  • Developing new collaborations among newsrooms, community organizations, educational institutions, and Reveal to strengthen local media ecosystems and build sustainable pathways for more in-depth, engaged journalism.
  • Leading the Reveal Labs initiative that helps local media organizations across the country tell investigative stories, connect with communities and understand the impact of their work.
  • Designing creative engagement initiatives and events blending art and journalism for Reveal and our partners.

SENIOR MANAGER, ENGAGEMENT
The Center for Investigative Reporting | Emeryville, CA
August 2015 – October 2016

  • Led audience development and engagement initiatives for a weekly radio show and podcast
  • Used analytics and audience research to advise editorial and product strategy
  • Guided long-term growth and day-to-day publishing for social media and email newsletters
  • Facilitated large-scale news collaborations to reach and empower new communities

SENIOR FELLOW
USC Annenberg Health Journalism Fellowships | Los Angeles, CA
July 2015 – February 2016

  • Served as a mentor for five journalists during their long-term reporting projects
  • Advised on engagement initiatives to extend the reach and impact of fellows’ reporting

DISTRIBUTION AND ENGAGEMENT MANAGER
The Center for Investigative Reporting | Emeryville, CA
June 2012 – August 2015

  • Led digital engagement strategies and audience growth for local, state and national news brands
  • Managed content syndication partnerships with dozens of newsroom across media platforms
  • Worked with editors and reporters to create localization opportunities for media partners
  • Designed and executed experimental projects blending journalism, art and public engagement

ENGAGEMENT EDITOR
The Center for Public Integrity | Washington, DC
March 2009 — May 2012

  • Created and led digital strategy, social media channels and engagement initiatives
  • Produced multimedia features for award-winning investigative journalism projects
  • Built audience for reporting on campaign finance and transparency during the 2012 elections

FREELANCE WRITER
Washington City Paper | Washington, DC
July 2008 — June 2009

  • Wrote regular stories and features on a variety of media topics and local events

MUSIC DIRECTOR
WXYC 89.3FM | Chapel Hill, NC
July 2006 – May 2008

  • Programmed the station’s on-air rotation and produced audio for a variety of specialty shows
  • Managed radio staff and relations between dozens of music labels, distributors and musicians
  • Created and produced the radio station’s blog

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
B.A., Journalism and Mass Communications, May 2007