Creative reconstruction: reimagining local news and public media
Thu 16 April 2026
09:30
Free
Calculating distance...
Local news and public media in the United States are facing what can feel like an unrelenting cycle of unsettling headlines--shrinking newsrooms, fragile business models, and growing gaps in community trust and coverage. Yet within this moment of disruption lie real opportunities for creative reconstruction.
This panel explores how bold thinking, unconventional partnerships, and a willingness to rebuild, not simply preserve, can open new paths forward. Drawing on examples such as the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Public Radio collaboration, as well as AP Fund for Journalism's ambitious partnership between a global news organization and local U.S. newsrooms, panelists will examine what becomes possible when institutions challenge long-standing assumptions about structure, scale, and service.
Rather than focusing solely on survival, this conversation invites optimism grounded in action. Panelists will discuss how innovation can help local and public media better serve communities, rebuild trust, and create models that are not just sustainable, but more responsive and equitable than what came before.
Moderated by Richard Tofel.
Sponsored by the AP Fund for Journalism.
Modified more than a month ago
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Kayce Ataiyero
Kayce Ataiyero is the Chief External Affairs Officer at the Joyce Foundation, where she oversees the Foundation's strategic communications, the Journalism Program and the Lend A Hand community grants fund. She is also a member of the Foundation's leadership team. Kayce has extensive experience in communications, journalism and politics. Prior to joining the Foundation in 2018, she served as director of external affairs for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, where she led communications and community engagement. She has also led communications for U.S. Congresswoman Robin Kelly, the Illinois Governor’s Office and the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office. As an award-winning journalist, Kayce previously worked as a staff writer for the Chicago Tribune, The Raleigh News and Observer, Philadelphia Inquirer and Washington Post. Kayce has a degree in journalism from the University of Maryland College Park. She is board chair of Media Impact Funders, a national organization that advances the work of a broad range of funders committed to supporting media in the public interest. She also serves on the board of Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, an organization committed to the unfinished business of our nation’s civil rights movement. She is a Leadership Greater Chicago Daniel Burnham Fellow, was named a Top 10 Empowering Women Leaders to Follow by CIO Views Magazine, a Chicago Titan 100, one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of Illinois by Women We Admire, a Notable Black Leader and Executive by Crain’s Chicago Business and one of Chicago’s most influential Black leaders by The Chicago Tribune. She also at one time was general manager of the Chicago Steam, a minor-league basketball team.
Kristen Mack
Kristen Mack is Vice President of Communications, MacArthur Fellows, and Partnerships for the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. She manages a comprehensive communications strategy designed to strengthen MacArthur’s reputation, the impact of the organizations it supports, and the communities they serve. Kristen puts storytelling at the center of all her work and is committed to identifying compelling narratives that amplify individual and collective voices. She oversees the MacArthur Fellows Program, the Foundation’s most well-recognized program, and manages institutional and executive communications. Kristen also leads MacArthur’s strategic thinking around institutional partnerships and collaborations. Prior to joining MacArthur, Kristen served as Director of Corporate Communications at the global public relations agency Golin, Director of Media Relations for the Cook County Health & Hospitals System, and Deputy Director of Public Affairs and Communications for Cook County. Earlier in her career, Kristen was a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, the Washington Post, and the Houston Chronicle. Kristen serves on the boards of Chicago Sun-Times Media Inc. and The Communications Network.
Richard Tofel
Richard Tofel is the principal of Gallatin Advisory LLC. He was the founding general manager of ProPublica from 2007-2012 and served as president from January 2013-September 2021. In this role, he had responsibility for all of ProPublica's non-journalism operations, including communications, legal, development, finance and budgeting, and human resources. He was formerly the assistant publisher of The Wall Street Journal and, earlier, an assistant managing editor of the paper, vice president of corporate communications for Dow Jones & Company, and an assistant general counsel of Dow Jones. More recently, he served as vice president, general counsel, and secretary of the Rockefeller Foundation and earlier as president and chief operating officer of the International Freedom Center, a museum and cultural center planned for the World Trade Center site. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the Outrider Foundation. He is the author of Not Shutting Up: A Year of Reflections on Journalism, Non-Profit Journalism: Issues Around Impact, Why American Newspapers Gave Away the Future, Restless Genius: Barney Kilgore, The Wall Street Journal and the Invention of Modern Journalism, Elements of Nonprofit News Management and many other books.
Rachel White
Rachel White is president of theguardian.org and executive vice president, philanthropic and strategic partnerships at Guardian News and Media. Prior to joining the Guardian, she served as executive vice president and interim president of the Washington D.C.-based, journalism-centered think tank New America Foundation. Working across media, policy, government, the private sector, and philanthropy, she led the organization in advancing new thinkers and new ideas to address the next generation of challenges facing the United States, and launched New America NYC and New America Live. From 1995 to 2005, Rachel worked for the World Wildlife Fund where she launched programs in San Francisco, New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago and Houston, and played a central and lead role on the Living Planet Campaign.
Festival Internazionale del Giornalismo
Il Festival Internazionale del Giornalismo di Perugia è un evento annuale che riunisce professionisti dei media, esperti di comunicazione e appassionati di informazione da tutto il mondo. Si svolge nel centro storico di Perugia e offre conferenze, dibattiti, workshop e opportunità di networking sui temi più rilevanti del giornalismo contemporaneo.