Projects

The Beacon

Founder & Publisher, 2018-2022

Founded a nonprofit regional news network focused on in-depth, public interest journalism serving Kansans and Missourians. Planning began in 2018 and fundraising began in 2019. The Kansas City Beacon launched in March 2020, and The Wichita Beacon launched in July 2021.

  • Pitched business plan and vision to local and national funders
  • Raised $4 million in secured and committed launch funds through grants, major gifts and a membership program, including multi-year commitments
  • Recruited a founding Board of Directors
  • Recruited and hired an editorial team for both newsrooms
  • Oversaw development and execution of audience development research and strategy
  • Designed and oversaw the launch of Community Engagement Bureaus in Kansas City and Wichita, which included recruitment of a paid Community Advisory Board and Community Representatives
  • Defined and tracked organizational impact to share with stakeholders
  • Developed an editorial strategy based on audience findings
  • Created an editorial workflow and documentation
  • Designed and implemented a source diversity tracking program
  • Researched and implemented product design and tech stack 
  • Managed ongoing daily programmatic news operations and oversight in Kansas City
  • Wrote grants and reported on impact to funders
  • Drafted and implemented an organizational budget
  • Created HR framework and policies, including a staff manual

LION Publishers

Membership Manager

  • Designed programming and training for existing and future news entrepreneurs
  • Researched and developed member tiers, database and workflow to gain new members and retain existing members
  • Researcher on the GNI Startups Playbook for aspiring digital news entrepreneurs
  • Led organizational rebranding from RFPs to concept designs
  • Managed social media and newsletters
  • Compiled and designed annual report

National Freedom of Information Coalition

Outreach Manager

  • Coordinated efforts of state open government and FOI coalitions across the U.S. 
  • Tracked state government transparency legislation and trends across all 50 states
  • Edited national research on open records enforcement and public portals
  • Advised state coalitions on fiscal sustainability, marketing and membership 
  • Built outside networks to support the mission of open, transparent government
  • Collaborated with state and national journalism, legal and academic organizations
  • Led organizational rebranding effort
  • Organized 2019 National FOI Summit

The Kansas City Star

Data & Investigative Reporter

Wrote data-driven investigative stories in the public interest using public records, managed and curated databases, created data visualizations and trained other reporters on how to use data within their beats.

“Why So Secret, Kansas?” series

The Wichita Eagle

Health Care Reporter > City Hall Reporter > Data & Investigative Reporter

On the data beat, I wrote investigative stories using public records and narrative techniques, managed The Eagle’s public databases using Caspio, and trained reporters on data analysis. Earlier beats at The Eagle included city hall and health care.

The Joplin Globe

Education Reporter & Twitter Administrator

Started reporting on tornado aftermath the day after an EF-5 tornado destroyed one-third of Joplin, managed social media accounts and trained reporters on how to use social media.

The Bulletin

Editor-in-Chief

Managed a staff of 25, edited all copy for print/online and trained reporters on writing, interviewing and using open records over two years. Served as managing editor for one year and school governance reporter for one semester.