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MTC @ Medill Executive Fellowship Program Announces Class of 2026

30 executives begin yearlong program recognized for its industry-defining tools, coaches, and alumni network

ST. PETERSBURG, FL (January 12, 2026) — Media Transformation Challenge is pleased to announce the 30 senior executives selected for its 2026 MTC @ Medill Executive Fellowship Program.

Since 2007, 435 senior media executives have realized critical performance results, built lifelong career skills and relationships, and made major contributions to industry transformation through this yearlong program.  

Fellows learn and apply MTC’s well-known tools of Performance-Driven Change to their most significant challenges, have yearlong access to a full slate of diverse executive coaches  –  Amanda Barrett, Lauren Gustus, Stephane Mayoux, Fran Scarlett, and Danyelle White  –  and will connect with a world-class set of MTC Alumni who share common language and program experiences. 

The 2026 Fellows are a rich blend of some of the largest media brands in the world,  cutting-edge nonprofits, and media network support organizations. 

“This is a special year for MTC and our 2026 Fellows, as we celebrate our 20th anniversary and launch our MTC @ Medill collaboration,” Media Transformation Challenge Executive Director Charlie Baum said.  “We’re excited to help Fellows across extremely diverse situations ‘increase the odds’ of success for the transformational challenges they face.”

 “Medill is thrilled to welcome the new MTC fellows into our community,” Interim Executive Director of Medill’s Local News Initiative and 2019 MTC Alumni Mackenzie Warren said. “Our mission is to help them achieve transformational performance outcomes for their customers, their communities and themselves. Through this, we hope to help push the frontiers of how trusted news and information will thrive in 2026 and beyond.”

Fellows kicked off the MTC program during an in-person session at The Poynter Institute today, then reconvene in March, June, and September on Northwestern’s campus.

Throughout the program, Fellows will identify and pursue their most significant business performance challenges with help from MTC’s trademark tools, concepts, coaches, peer group and alumni network. In years past, the program has focused on helping newer enterprises produce quality journalism to deliver audience impact, build capacity and gain financial strength; innovating new business models, service offerings and digital ventures; delivering more powerful audience-focused experiences and outcomes through integrating efforts across internal operations; and strengthening relationships and building audiences across fault lines of race and class. 

Several Fellows and the overall program are supported through the generosity of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Google News Initiative, The Asian American Journalists Association, the Institute for Nonprofit News, the Lenfest Institute, and the family of Jeff Chambers and Andrea Okamura. The 2026 MTC @ Medill Fellows are:

  • Audrey Azzo – Program Coordinator, Local News Initiative at Northwestern Medill
  • Orlando Bailey (Knight Fellow) – Executive Director, Outlier Media
  • Paritosh Bansal – Editor, Financial Industry and Financial Markets, Reuters News
  • Evelyn Castro-Becerra (GNI Fellow) – Publisher, La Prensa de Houston
  • Julia Campbell (Knight Fellow) – Co-CEO, Local Media Association
  • Katherine Faulders – Washington Managing Editor, ABC News
  • Gary Green (Knight Fellow) – Executive Director, Student Press Law Center
  • Madison Gray (Knight Fellow) – Executive Editor, New York Amsterdam News
  • Yaneth Guillen (Knight Fellow) – Executive Director, National Association of Hispanic Journalists
  • Ashley Harper (Knight Fellow) – Product and Technology Officer, Charlottesville Tomorrow 
  • Laicie Heeley – CEO, Inkstick Media
  • Jacob Hylton (Knight Fellow)  –  Executive Director, LOOKOUT
  • Nina Ignaczak (Knight Fellow) –  Founder & Executive Editor, Planet Detroit
  • Christophe Jakubyszyn  –  Editor in Chief, Les Echos
  • James Jordan  –  News Director Europe and Africa, The Associated Press
  • Kathy Kieliszewski (Knight Fellow) –  Executive Editor of Innovation, Bridge Michigan
  • Daniel Linden  –  VP, Digital Media & Streaming Partnerships, ABC News
  • Patty Michalski (GNI Fellow) –  Senior Vice President of Content Strategy & Innovation, Hearst Newspapers
  • Vanan Murugesan (Knight Fellow) –  Executive Director, Sahan Journal
  • Cheryl Mainor Norman (Knight Fellow)  –  Owner and Publisher, Chicago News Weekly 
  • Carlos Ortuño (Knight Fellow)  –  Chief Development Officer, Borderless Magazine NFP
  • Katie Oyan (Knight Fellow) –  President / CEO / Chief Editorial Officer, IndiJ Public Media
  • Jonathan Rabb (Knight Fellow) –  CEO, Watch The Yard
  • Maria Jose Ramirez Braiz (Knight Fellow)  –  CEO and Founder, Te Lo Cuento News
  • Allie Shah  –  Deputy Editor for Food & Culture, The Minnesota Star Tribune
  • Nika Soon-Shiong  –  Publisher, Drop Site News
  • Lisa Snowden  –  Editor-in-Chief, Baltimore Beat
  • Taylor Turner  –  Deputy Managing Editor, Digital, The Examination
  • Kristyn Wellesley (GNI/Knight Fellow) –  Senior Editor, Audience Engagement and Development | AI Lead, MediaNews Group
  • Kimi Yoshino (AAJA Fellow) –  Managing Editor, The Washington Post

About Media Transformation Challenge

Media Transformation Challenge (MTC) is a year-long executive leadership fellowship and alumni network designed to help media organizations and leaders navigate the disruption of the news industry, build sustainable business models, engage underserved audiences, and strengthen democratic information ecosystems. MTC Fellows have achieved hundreds of millions of dollars of performance gain, and innovations adopted across the industry.

About Northwestern University’s Medill School

The Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern University is a leading journalism school offering undergraduate and graduate programs that combine enduring journalistic values with innovation, data-driven strategies and global perspectives. Founded in 1921, Medill emphasizes real-world reporting, media entrepreneurship, and leadership in media’s digital transformation.