Why this, Why now

I founded the First Amendment Foundation of Ventura County with a simple yet ambitious purpose: to protect and sustain local journalism in a region where our local news outlets too often struggle to keep their reporters on staff or pay freelancers more than prevailing rates. After serving as the inaugural CEO and Executive Director of the Institute for Nonprofit News, I realized that more support—and more innovation—was needed at the ground level, where the real work of informing communities happens. My background in both entrepreneurship and nonprofit leadership drove me to create a 501(c)3 organization that could bring together the resources, mentorship, and community engagement essential for local news in our communities to thrive.

In tandem with my teaching and writing on Community-Powered Journalism, I’ve launched this organization to champion robust, fact-driven reporting by freelancers, stringers, and traditional news teams. Since our founding in 2022, our mission has expanded to reach students, aspiring journalists, and members of the public who realize that free speech and a well-informed society go hand in hand. Through workshops, micro-grants, and partnerships with local organizations, we aspire to demonstrate how timely, impactful news coverage can bring communities together rather than drive them apart.

As I step away from the role of Founding Executive Director, I’m thrilled to hand the reins to John Brooks, a respected journalist whose tenure at CBS News Radio spans more than three decades. His passion for preserving local journalism aligns perfectly with the vision that sparked the Foundation’s creation. Although I’ll remain actively involved in the organization, I have every confidence that John’s leadership will usher in a new chapter—one that continues to elevate Ventura County’s journalists, unites our community around factual reporting, and ensures that the First Amendment remains the cornerstone of our free and vibrant society.