The Beacon - American Journalism Project

The Beacon is building a regional nonprofit news network dedicated to public service journalism for Kansas and Missouri.

The Beacon launched in Kansas City in 2020, covering the city with stories that were revelatory, contextual, data-driven and solutions-driven. Beacon reporters cover issues of health care, education, economics, environment and civic engagement to inform and engage local readers. The Beacon was named Emerging Publisher in 2020 by Local Independent Online News (LION) Publishers and received the Community Champion Award from the Institute for Nonprofit News in 2021.

With support from the American Journalism Project and the Wichita Community Foundation, The Beacon established itself as a nonprofit network and launched its second newsroom in Wichita, Kansas, in July 2021.

Eventually, The Beacon aims to operate newsrooms across Kansas and Missouri serving the two states’ 9 million residents.

Leaders

Stephanie Campbell

Chief Executive Officer

Stephanie Campbell brings deep experience in nonprofit leadership roles spanning the education, startup, philanthropy, technology and performing arts industries, as well as skills in budget management, venture philanthropy, strategic planning and employee engagement. Campbell previously served as vice president of operations and communications at Kansas City-based nonprofit Leanlab Education, a nonprofit working towards equity in K-12 education, and associate director of the Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Missouri Kansas City. She holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Kansas City, MO and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the University of Kansas. In her free time she enjoys unwinding on the tennis court and spending time with her three kids.
Scott Canon

Editor-in-chief

Scott Canon is the editor-in-chief of The Wichita Beacon and The Kansas City Beacon. Previously, he was managing editor of the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of NPR affiliates. He was also a reporter and editor at the Kansas City Star for several years, covering local, regional and international stories.