We are excited to announce the return of Maya Schenwar, Truthout’s Executive Director since 2009, to the new position of Editor-in-Chief, and the promotion of Joe Macaré to Publisher. Together, they form Truthout’s new leadership team.
Maya returns to Truthout full-time after a year on sabbatical completing a book on America’s prison system and its impact on families and communities: Locked Down, Locked Out (forthcoming from Berrett-Koehler Publishers). As Editor-in-Chief, she will oversee Truthout’s editorial department with Managing Editor Victoria Harper and Content Relations Editor Leslie Thatcher.
”My first day back was like coming home,” says Maya. “I’m so excited about the next year at Truthout, and thrilled to be taking a position in which I can focus on Truthout’s editorial vision and deepen our commitment to journalism in the service of social justice.” Joe Macaré, who has been part of Truthout’s development team since early 2012, is taking on the new position of Publisher, running the organization’s fundraising, outreach and other operations.
“Joe brings a rare mix of innovative dynamism and ceaseless dedication to his work. He is both incredibly talented and wholeheartedly committed to building a better world,” Maya says. Joe adds, “I don’t think there’s ever been a more urgent need for the perspectives Truthout provides. I could not be more honored to be assuming this role and to be working with Maya on a daily basis again.”
Joining Joe in the development team is Ziggy West Jeffery, formerly Operations Manager at The Real News Network, now Truthout’s new Development Director. “I’m very excited about the opportunity to play a role in increasing the footprint of independent media by growing Truthout’s donor base and helping to expand their work,” says Ziggy, whom Joe describes as “simply the stand-out choice for this position.”
We’re very grateful to Dina Rasor for her work as Acting Executive Director during the last year, and are glad that Dina will remain with us as a weekly Truthout columnist.
If you have ideas for the team, feel free to let us know at [email protected]!
Help us Prepare for Trump’s Day One
Trump is busy getting ready for Day One of his presidency – but so is Truthout.
Trump has made it no secret that he is planning a demolition-style attack on both specific communities and democracy as a whole, beginning on his first day in office. With over 25 executive orders and directives queued up for January 20, he’s promised to “launch the largest deportation program in American history,” roll back anti-discrimination protections for transgender students, and implement a “drill, drill, drill” approach to ramp up oil and gas extraction.
Organizations like Truthout are also being threatened by legislation like HR 9495, the “nonprofit killer bill” that would allow the Treasury Secretary to declare any nonprofit a “terrorist-supporting organization” and strip its tax-exempt status without due process. Progressive media like Truthout that has courageously focused on reporting on Israel’s genocide in Gaza are in the bill’s crosshairs.
As journalists, we have a responsibility to look at hard realities and communicate them to you. We hope that you, like us, can use this information to prepare for what’s to come.
And if you feel uncertain about what to do in the face of a second Trump administration, we invite you to be an indispensable part of Truthout’s preparations.
In addition to covering the widespread onslaught of draconian policy, we’re shoring up our resources for what might come next for progressive media: bad-faith lawsuits from far-right ghouls, legislation that seeks to strip us of our ability to receive tax-deductible donations, and further throttling of our reach on social media platforms owned by Trump’s sycophants.
We’re preparing right now for Trump’s Day One: building a brave coalition of movement media; reaching out to the activists, academics, and thinkers we trust to shine a light on the inner workings of authoritarianism; and planning to use journalism as a tool to equip movements to protect the people, lands, and principles most vulnerable to Trump’s destruction.
We’re asking all of our readers to start a monthly donation or make a one-time donation – as a commitment to stand with us on day one of Trump’s presidency, and every day after that, as we produce journalism that combats authoritarianism, censorship, injustice, and misinformation. You’re an essential part of our future – please join the movement by making a tax-deductible donation today.
If you have the means to make a substantial gift, please dig deep during this critical time!
With gratitude and resolve,
Maya, Negin, Saima, and Ziggy