Staff

Executive Director Josh Silver co-founded Free Press with Robert W. McChesney and John Nichols in 2002. He oversees all programs, campaigns, fundraising and special projects. Josh previously served as campaign manager for the successful statewide ballot initiative for public funding of elections in Arizona and as the director of development for the cultural arm of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. He has served as the director of an international youth exchange program and as a development and management consultant. Josh publishes frequently on media, campaign finance and other public policy issues. He attended the University of Grenoble, France, and Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash.

Managing Director Kimberly Longey oversees organizational development, strategic planning, staffing and financial management activities. She is also a key member of our fundraising team. Kimberly has 23 years' experience building, growing and reinventing nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining Free Press, Kimberly served as deputy director of the Proteus Fund and executive director of Hilltown Community Development Corp. She has held numerous elected and appointed local government positions. Kimberly currently volunteers as a director of the Frances Fund and treasurer of the See Forward Fund, two related philanthropic organizations promoting justice, equity and sustainability with thought leadership and grant making. She holds a master's degree in community economic development from the University of Southern New Hampshire.

Senior Program Director Craig Aaron leads all Free Press program, advocacy and communications work. Before joining Free Press, he was an investigative reporter for Public Citizen's Congress Watch, where he helped create and launch the WhiteHouseForSale.org Web site. Craig previously worked as the managing editor of In These Times magazine and is the editor of the book Appeal to Reason: 25 Years In These Times. His reporting, commentary and criticism have appeared in numerous national publications.

Web Director Neal Bastek oversees Free Press Web sites and assists with outreach campaigns and other online communication efforts. Prior to joining Free Press, Neal was the senior online communications director at Metropolitan Group, a full-service creative and strategic communications firm dedicated to serving clients with a social purpose. Neal has several years of experience producing Web sites and other online tools for nonprofit organizations. He holds a master's degree in English with a focus on online communication from Colorado State University and is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Oregon's Applied Information Management graduate program.

Outreach Coordinator Jordan Berg conducts a variety of outreach, organizing and public education activities to broaden the movement for media reform. He also supports the planning and implementation of the National Conference for Media Reform. Prior to joining Free Press, Jordan was grants manager at Hope for Children in London, England. He holds a B.A. in economics and international studies from American University, and a master's degree in international politics from University of London School of Oriental and African Studies.

Campaign Coordinator Candace Clement conducts strategic communications, organizing and online outreach activities to advance Free Press initiatives. She works with community-based organizations, public interest groups, academics and other allies to encourage participation in Free Press campaigns and events. She also co-hosts the weekly Media Minutes radio show. Candace served as a longtime Free Press intern and volunteered for Northampton area community radio station Valley Free Radio prior to joining the staff. She earned an associate's degree in communications, with highest honors, from Holyoke Community College and holds a B.A. in American studies from Smith College.

Development Coordinator Amy Altwarg Clough works with the development team to implement all fundraising efforts for Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund. Amy comes to Free Press with more than 12 years of management experience in community-based as well as national for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Before joining Free Press, Amy served for eight years as the grants manager and special events coordinator for the Proteus Fund. She holds a master’s degree in counseling from the University of San Francisco and also has served on the board of a local LGBT community organization.

Multimedia Manager Stevie Converse compiles the Free Press newswire and edits the Media Reform Daily. She works closely with the communications director and campaign director, updating campaign web pages and conducting issue-related research. She also writes, produces and co-hosts the weekly Media Minutes radio show. Stevie is a recent graduate of Mount Holyoke College's Critical Social Thought program, with a concentration in political ideas and communication technology. Before heading back to school, Stevie worked in health research at the American Health Foundation and Mount Sinai Hospital and was a shiatsu therapist and teacher for many years.

Outreach Manager Mary Alice Crim conducts a variety of outreach, organizing and public education activities to broaden the movement for media reform. She also supports the planning and implementation of the National Conference for Media Reform. Mary Alice received bachelor's degrees in media studies and Spanish, with a minor in women's studies, from Southern Connecticut State University before joining Free Press.

Associate Development Director Carrie Cuthbert works with the development team to plan and implement all fundraising activities for Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund. Prior to joining Free Press, Carrie served for over eight years as founding co-director of the Women's Rights Network, a human rights organization working to end violence against women, and for three years on the development team at Amherst College. She has also served on the board of a local battered women's organization and on the founding coordinating committee of the U.S. Human Rights Network.

Communications Coordinator Lindsy Embree focuses on media relations, including maintaining and improving our press database, organizing press events, researching and placing ads, and media outreach. Prior to joining Free Press, Lindsy worked as the office coordinator of Redpoint Marketing PR in New York City. Lindsy received her bachelor's degree in sociology with minors in African-American studies and women's studies from Eastern Illinois University.

Finance Director Heather Higgins ensures sound financial management of Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund. Heather works to develop and refine financial systems, oversee budgets, and coordinate with other professional financial service providers. Before joining Free Press, Heather was director of finance and administration, and later, director of operations, for the Western Massachusetts Enterprise Fund. She has also been a program coordinator at Harvard University’s School of Public Health and an administrative manager at MIT.

Graphic Designer James Hindle designs and creates new campaign brands, features and graphical elements for Free Press Web sites and print materials. Prior to joining Free Press, James worked at the strategic design firm Bidwell ID, at the marketing agency Stackpole & Partners and as a freelance Web and print designer and illustrator. He received his B.F.A. from Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, Mass.

Web Developer Alex Kahn designs, develops and maintains the Free Press Web site, SavetheInternet.com and StopBigMedia.com. Prior to joining Free Press, Alex did Web design and development for the community organization Nuestras Raíces in Holyoke and the National Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, Mass. Alex earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Thought & Political Economy from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Campaign Director Timothy Karr oversees all Free Press campaigns and online outreach efforts, including SavetheInternet.com and our work on public broadcasting, propaganda, and journalism. Before joining Free Press, Tim served as executive director of MediaChannel.org and vice president of Globalvision New Media and the Globalvision News Network. He has also worked extensively as an editor, reporter and photojournalist for the Associated Press, Time Inc., New York Times and Australia Consolidated Press. Tim critiques, analyzes and reports on media and media policy for the Huffington Post and on his personal blog, MediaCitizen.

Major Gifts Director Ellen Leuchs plans and implements all high-level individual donor fundraising efforts for Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund. Ellen is a founding partner of KirschLeuchs Consulting, a firm specializing in building the capacity of nonprofits to raise private philanthropic support. Her 20 years of fundraising experience include serving as director of development for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and director of planning for Victim Services, Inc./Safe Horizon in New York City.

Online Campaign Manager Josh Levy develops and implements Internet-based campaigns, programs and projects to encourage online activism and support Free Press’ advocacy, fundraising and public education initiatives. Before joining Free Press, Josh was managing editor of Change.org, a social action network where he supervised the launch of more than a dozen issue-based blogs and oversaw online organizing and advocacy campaigns. He previously worked as an associate editor for techPresident.com and Personal Democracy Forum, and was an adjunct lecturer in media studies at Hunter College in New York City. Josh holds a B.A. in English and religion from the University of Vermont and an M.F.A. in Integrated Media Arts from Hunter College.

Policy Coordinator Adam Lynn works in the Washington office, where he conducts research on issues related to media ownership, public media and the future of the Internet. Adam graduated magna cum laude from Washington State University, focusing his studies on the relationship between media and democracy. Adam interned with Free Press prior to joining the staff.

Administrative Director Amy Martyn is responsible for managing human resources and complying with state and federal regulations for employment, nonprofit corporation and advocacy. Amy has more than 14 years of nonprofit administrative experience, including as administrative director of the Solidago Foundation and administrative manager of the Western Massachusetts Planned Parenthood Center.

Project Manager Kate McKenney works with key staff to create and maintain best practices and procedures for the administration of Free Press and Free Press Action Fund. Kate previously served as our conference manager from 2006 to 2008 and as operations manager from 2004 to 2006. Prior to joining Free Press, Kate served as the assistant director of the Center for Tropical Ecology in Keene, N.H., and as a research associate at the University of Massachusetts. Kate has a master’s in conservation biology, a B.S. from Earlham College, and works as a cheesemaker in her spare time.

Foundation Relations Manager Sarena Neyman maintains relationships with funders and foundations and coordinates all grantwriting and reporting efforts. Sarena has more than 25 years of nonprofit fundraising and publicity experience in such areas affordable housing, consumer rights, community technology and health care. Prior to joining Free Press, she was involved in the development and marketing of an affordable homeownership neighborhood in Holyoke, Mass. Sarena has a law degree from the New England School of Law in Boston and a B.A. from Wesleyan University. She was one of 20 Community Renaissance Fellows in the Yale University/U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development urban revitalization program.

Development Coordinator Yesenia Perez works with the development team to implement all fundraising efforts for Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund. She has over seven years of experience in content management and fundraising. Yesenia comes to Free Press from the Institute for Community Economics. She received her bachelor's degree in business administration from Bernard M. Baruch College.

Policy Counsel M. Chris Riley advises Free Press on legal matters related to our policy, research and campaign work, and represents Free Press on our issues before the FCC and Congress. Prior to joining Free Press, Chris worked as an Honors Program Attorney at the FCC, as a summer associate at Ropes & Gray, LLP, and as a legal intern at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Chris earned a Juris Doctorate from Yale Law School and a Ph.D. in computer science from Johns Hopkins University.

Outreach Director Alexandra Russell oversees all Free Press advocacy, outreach, education and organizing program components -- working closely with the campaign director, executive director and other key staff. Prior to joining Free Press, Alex served as foundation director and political director of the Barbara Lee Family Foundation & Lee Family Office and as director of Mass. Voters for Fair Elections. She has run grassroots campaigns with the PIRGs and earned her master's degree from Boston University.

Policy Director Ben Scott heads up our policy team in Washington, which is dedicated to monitoring and analyzing media policymaking to increase public awareness and participation. Before joining Free Press, he worked as a legislative fellow handling telecommunications policy for Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is also in the final stages of his doctoral degree in communications from the University of Illinois. He is the author of several scholarly articles on American journalism history and the politics of media regulation, as well as co-editor of the books Our Unfree Press and The Future of Media.

Content Manager Holiday Shapiro works with the communications team and other key staff to edit the Free Press Web site and create and edit campaign, public education, outreach and fundraising materials. Before joining Free Press, Holiday worked in broadcasting at CBS News, was a teaching and research assistant at the University of Minnesota, and served as a program associate at Headwaters Group Philanthropic Services in Saint Paul, Minn. Holiday earned her bachelor's degree from New York University and two master's degrees in political science and mass communication from the University of Minnesota.

Online Campaign Coordinator Tessa Simonds implements Internet-based campaigns, programs and projects to encourage online activism and support Free Press’ advocacy, fundraising and public education initiatives. Before joining Free Press, Tessa was an online communications associate with the U.S. PIRG network, where she developed and maintained network Web sites, worked to establish best practices in online communications advocacy and consulted on Web traffic data. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she double majored in English and Social Thought & Political Economy. Tessa also has an Associate of Arts degree with high honors from MassBay Commmunity College.

Program Manager Josh Stearns conducts strategic communications, organizing and online outreach activities to advance Free Press initiatives. He works with community-based organizations, public interest groups, academics and other allies to encourage participation in Free Press campaigns and events. Prior to joining Free Press, Josh provided communications consulting to a range of nonprofit organizations, and served as policy and communications associate for National Campus Compact.

Campaign Coordinator Megan Tady conducts communications, grassroots organizing, and online outreach activities to advance Free Press’ legislative and movement building initiatives. She blogs for Free Press Web sites, drafts letters to the editor and op-eds, writes and develops content for Free Press campaigns, and works to ensure that campaigns, programs and projects are prominent in online social networks. Megan also responds to requests for information from allies, state level organizations, e-activists and Free Press Action Fund members. Prior to joining Free Press, Megan was a national political reporter for In These Times magazine, a staff reporter and editor for The New Standard, and worked extensively as a freelance journalist. She earned her B.A. in journalism from Northwest Missouri State University.

Government Relations Manager Joe Torres works closely with the policy and research staff to create Free Press' legislative agenda, lobby in Washington, D.C. and in the states, and build new coalitions that broaden the base of the media reform movement. Before joining Free Press, Joe worked as deputy director of communications and media policy at the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and was a journalist for eight years.

Program Manager Misty Perez Truedson conducts strategic communications, organizing and online outreach activities to advance Free Press’ legislative and movement-building initiatives. She works with community-based organizations, public interest groups, academics and other allies to encourage participation in Free Press campaigns and events, with a particular focus on the SaveTheInternet.com campaign. Prior to joining Free Press, Misty was the statewide grassroots organizing coordinator for Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. She is a Master’s candidate in community development and planning at Clark University in Worcester, Mass.

Research Director S. Derek Turner oversees research and analysis projects, focusing on the implications of media policymaking decisions on media reform goals. Before becoming research director, Derek was a research fellow on our staff and authored articles in publications such as Business Week and Salon.com. Derek holds a master's degree in public policy from the Goldman School at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was awarded the 2006 Smolensky prize for Outstanding Advanced Policy Analysis.

Assistant Policy Coordinator Moira Vahey supports the policy team with research, advocacy and the implementation of strategic planning. Before joining Free Press, Moira was deputy press secretary for the Democratic Leadership Council, where she wrote press releases, maintained press lists, cultivated relationships with the press corps and assisted with overall press strategy. Prior to that, she was a press intern in the office of Senator Barack Obama and a staff member for the Obama for America presidential campaign. Moira earned her B.A. from DePauw University.

Policy Counsel Coriell Wright advises Free Press on legal matters related to our policy, research and campaign work; helps to craft our regulatory agenda; and represents Free Press on our issues before the FCC and Congress. Prior to joining Free Press, Corie served as senior counsel and adjunct clinical professor at the Georgetown University Institute for Public Representation in Washington. She earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Michigan and holds law degrees from the American University Washington College of Law and the Georgetown University Law Center.