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Trusting News board welcomes Nina Sachdev and announces new officers
As Trusting News enters 2026, its board of directors is thrilled to welcome one new member and has appointed new officers.
Nina Sachdev is the newest member of the board of directors and is also deputy director of external affairs at Media Impact Funders (MIF). Since joining MIF in 2016 as the organization’s first full-time director of communications, Nina has been leading efforts to showcase the power of media, journalism, and storytelling to the philanthropic community. Before her MIF days, her work in journalism took her to The Dallas Morning News, The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, The Philadelphia Daily News, and The Philadelphia Weekly.
Sachdev fills an opening on the board left by Richard Griffiths, who served on the board since Trusting News became an independent organization in 2024. He also served as treasurer.
“Nina’s deep appreciation for local news, and her experience telling the story of journalism’s impact, make her an exciting addition to the board,” said Trusting News Executive Director Joy Mayer. “I’m excited and grateful to have her help shaping our work. Our board is such an asset and source of support for our team.”
This year’s board chair will be Andrew DeVigal, who has served on the board since 2024. He 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.
Moving into the treasurer position is Reuben Stern, who previously served as chair and has been on the board since 2024. He 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.
Other directors who are continuing their service are Joy Mayer and Lynn Walsh from the Trusting News team and:
David Grant is the bridge between Blue Engine Collaborative and its friends and partners. Prior to joining Blue Engine, David spent four years at Facebook/Meta, managing many of its programs, investments in local media, and support efforts for news “creators.” His prior experience includes eight years at The Christian Science Monitor where, as associate publisher, he led the team responsible for driving digital and print subscriptions. He began his career as a political reporter at the Monitor.
Kristen Mueller is a media strategist specializing in digital transformation and performance driven change. Muller is the former chief content officer of Southern California Public Radio (SCPR). Under her leadership, SCPR transformed from a leading public radio station in Los Angeles into one of the most innovative local journalism outlets in the country, routinely winning national awards for its community engagement, digital innovation, investigations and audio storytelling. Previously, Muller worked for CBS News as a producer for the CBS Evening News and associate producer for 60 Minutes II. She is a recipient of the prestigious JSK Fellowship at Stanford University and was a 2018 Columbia University Punch Sulzberger Executive Leadership Fellow. Muller has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley.
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.
At Trusting News, we learn how people decide what news to trust and turn that knowledge into actionable strategies for journalists. We train and empower journalists to take responsibility for demonstrating credibility and actively earning trust through transparency and engagement. Learn more about our work, vision and team. Subscribe to our Trust Tips newsletter. Follow us on Twitter, BlueSky and LinkedIn.
