Ellen Russ is a Human Resources and Operations executive with 30+ years of experience across diverse industries, including media, financial services, not-for-profit, and technology. In her most recent role as Senior Vice President at Warner Bros Discovery, Ellen led the talent strategy for over 4,500 employees across CNN and WBD Sports. Ellen holds an MS in Social and Organizational Learning from George Mason University and a BA in Sociology from the University of Virginia.

Nick Swyter is a program manager at The New York Times specializing in launching and managing philanthropic-funded journalism initiatives. Prior to working at The Times, Nick worked as a program associate at Knight Foundation and oversaw a portfolio of journalism grants focused on topics such as pro bono legal services, reducing misinformation, local news collaborations, and startup development. He previously worked as a broadcast news producer in Arizona and as a magazine editor in Miami.

Andrew DeVigal holds the endowed chair in journalism innovation and civic engagement and is the director of the Agora Journalism Center, the forum for the future of local news and civic health, at the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism & Communication. The center energizes research, teaching, and learning to foster pathways for public participation and transform how communicators and journalists inform and relate with their communities. A constant connector and bridge builder, DeVigal’s leadership at the school has led to industry-recognized initiatives such as Gather, a platform to support community-minded journalists, and the Doers Gathering, a toolkit to drive community-driven solutions addressing pressing local issues. Before joining the UofO, DeVigal was the multimedia editor at The New York Times, where he directed the multimedia team and conceived and produced ground-breaking story forms and processes that continue to shape the industry today.

Richard T. Griffiths, board treasurer, retired as vice president and senior editorial director at CNN in 2017 following a 26-year career with the network. He led reporting and investigative projects that won multiple George F. Peabody Awards, the Overseas Press Club David Kaplan Award, two Emmys, a National Headliner Award and the Investigative Reporters and Editors Medal. He is active in the Georgia First Amendment Foundation and the University of Georgia Grady College Board of Trust. 

Joy Mayer, director of Trusting News and board secretary, founded the organization in 2016 after a 20-year career in newsrooms and teaching. She spent 12 years at the Missouri School of Journalism, where she created an audience engagement curriculum and a community outreach team in the newsroom of the Columbia Missourian and also taught web design and print design. She lives in Sarasota, Florida.

Reuben Stern, board chair, is the director of the Missouri School of Journalism’s New York program and the director of New York City partnerships for the Reynolds Journalism Institute. Previously, Stern was part of the RJI Futures Lab team and served as the managing editor for the Columbia Missourian, where he directly oversaw the day-to-day operation for the website and daily newspaper. Before joining Mizzou, Stern worked at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution; The Budapest Sun, an English-language newspaper in Hungary; and the Los Angeles Daily News. 

Lynn Walsh, assistant director of Trusting News, is an Emmy award-winning journalist who has worked in investigative journalism at the national level and locally in California, Ohio, Texas and Florida. She is the former Ethics Chair for the Society of Professional Journalists and a past national president for the organization. Based in San Diego, Lynn is also an adjunct professor and freelance journalist.