Welcoming new leadership to the American Journalism Project’s Board

A sustainable future for local news depends on strong leadership. At the American Journalism Project, we are fortunate to have an exceptional board guiding our work, and today I’m thrilled to share important updates to our board of directors — leaders who help guide our vision, challenge us to think boldly, and support us as we continue to grow.

First, I’m delighted to welcome Jim Brady, vice president of journalism at Knight Foundation, to our board. Jim is a dedicated champion of local news and one of the most experienced digital news leaders in the country. In his role at Knight, he has been instrumental in supporting initiatives that strengthen the local news ecosystem. His deep expertise — shaped by years of leading digital innovation at The Washington Post, Digital First Media and Spirited Media  — will be invaluable as we continue investing in nonprofit local news organizations.

This moment also marks an important leadership transition within our board. Irving Washington, senior vice president and executive director of the Health Information and Trust Initiative at KFF, will step into the role of board chair. Irving has served on our board since 2018 and as vice chair since 2021. He brings extensive experience in journalism and philanthropy, including his tenure as CEO of the Online News Association. We are fortunate to have his leadership as we enter this next phase of growth.

I also want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Joe Natoli, who has served as our board chair since 2021 and will remain a valued member of our board. Joe joined the board in 2019 and has been a steady, thoughtful leader through a critical period of growth for the American Journalism Project. In addition to his current role as executive vice president and chief administrative officer at Baptist Health South Florida, Joe has deep roots in the journalism industry. He previously worked for Knight Ridder, Inc., where he served as chairman and publisher of the company’s largest newspapers, The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News. His extensive leadership experience in both journalism and business has been invaluable to our work. Under his leadership as chair, we have significantly expanded our portfolio of nonprofit news organizations and deepened our impact. His continued presence on our board will be an asset as we build on this momentum.

Transitions like these are moments to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re headed. The American Journalism Project is growing: our portfolio now includes 50 nonprofit news organizations, and we’re expanding our efforts to support local news in communities across the country. With these leadership changes, we’re poised to move even faster to support and scale nonprofit news organizations that are reimagining the future of local journalism. The strength of our board is crucial to this work, and we are deeply grateful to Jim, Irving and Joe — as well as the rest of our board — for their dedication to ensuring every community has access to trusted, independent journalism.

Thank you to all of our supporters and partners who continue to champion the future of local news. We’re excited for what’s ahead.

Sarabeth Berman is CEO of the American Journalism Project.