Nashville Banner - American Journalism Project

The Nashville Banner is a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to rebuilding civic power in Tennessee by delivering journalism that helps people understand, engage with, and influence the systems and people that shape their community.

The Nashville Banner newsroom launched in 2024, covering local government, public policy, and neighborhood issues with a focus on accountability and civic engagement. Through initiatives like the Zip Code Project, the Banner connects deeply with communities and elevates the voices of those historically underserved by traditional media. At the same time, our beat reporting brings transparency to policymaking and holds Tennessee’s people and institutions of power accountable. In our first year, we were honored by the Tennessee Bar Association with their Fourth Estate Award for distinguished coverage of the Nashville court system.

With support from the American Journalism Project, the Nashville Banner is expanding its leadership capacity and business infrastructure to grow a model of local journalism that empowers residents from the sidewalk to the statehouse.

Leaders

Steve Cavendish

President & Editor

Steve Cavendish is a co-founder and the President and Editor at the Nashville Banner. A 30-year veteran of newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune and The Washington Post, Steve returned to Nashville in 2011 and edited The City Paper, Washington City Paper and the Nashville Scene.
Paige Hendrickson

Director of Development

Paige Hendrickson is a co-founder and the Director of Development at the Nashville Banner. A fundraiser specializing in nonprofit news, Paige oversees the Banner’s revenue operations including the cultivation and stewardship of Nashville’s philanthropic community, grant writing for local and national foundations, membership, and corporate support. She also serves on the leadership team, providing direction, vision, and strategic planning for the organization. Prior to joining the Banner, Paige was a top performing account manager for Nashville Public Radio. She’s passionate about advancing information as a public good by helping nonprofit news organizations build sustainable revenue operations.
Demetria Kalodimos

Executive Producer

Demetria Kalodimos is a co-founder and the Executive Producer at the Nashville Banner. Demetria is a household name in Nashville, having anchored and reported news for 34 years at the city’s first television station, WSMV. She hosts and produces the weekly podcast Banner & Company. She also oversees the video wing, producing pieces for the Banner that run with our partner NewsChannel 5 and a highlights package of Banner work that appears on PBS Nashville during NewsHour. Demetria is the winner of three IRE Awards, three Edward R. Murrow Awards, three National Headliner Awards, and was a national Emmy finalist. She’s also produced feature-length documentaries for the festival circuit and nationally on PBS.