Meet the team: Dallas Free Press expands with new hires and opportunities
Newsletter
This content originally was a newsletter Dallas Free Press emailed to insiders. To become one, sign up here for free.
Last year, we asked for your support so we could hire our first community journalist.
You responded generously, and this summer we added not just one but two new members to our staff!
We’d like to introduce you to several of the people you’ll see often in South Dallas and West Dallas, whose names are in the story bylines and photo credits, and who do all kinds of work behind the scenes to make sure that we are not only reporting on our neighborhoods but also listening and responding.
Don’t hesitate to introduce yourself when you see us in the neighborhood, to reach out to us directly, to follow us on social media, or to give us feedback.
And if you or someone you know is interested in joining our team, make sure to read all the way to the end of this newsletter to find out about a new position we’re adding!
Community journalist Shardae White is a native North Texan who grew up primarily in Dallas, San Antonio and Plano. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Spanish and sociology from Austin College, and will receive her master’s in journalism from the University of North Texas this December. She loves learning about languages and cultures, and likes to “make stuff.
Email Shardae | Follow Shardae
Journalism pathway coordinator Jesse Jines studied media arts at the University of North Texas and was one of the initial student mentors involved in UNT’s High School Career Connect. He spends his Friday afternoons with L.G. Pinkston High School students in West Dallas during our newly launched journalism club. He loves film, music and finding new places to eat.
Freelance photographer Nitashia Johnson grew up in South Dallas and West Dallas, and credits her middle school art teacher at Pearl C. Anderson for her photography career. She studied at the Rhode Island School of Design, and is the founder of The Smart Project and the creator of The Beauty of South Dallas exhibit.
Freelance editor and reporter Sujata Dand is an award-winning journalist who leads our investigative and solutions projects on Dallas’ digital divide, food apartheid and more. She still takes assignments for NPR and KERA, where she spent a decade of her career and produced several documentaries, including Life in the Balance: The Health Care Crisis in Texas and High School: The Best and the Rest.
Social media lead Selwa Moharram is a communications consultant and visual artist living in Plano. She helps solopreneurs, coaches and small business owners streamline and amplify their messages through visual and written communication strategies. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing, being out in nature, and dancing.
Social media and marketing intern Eunice Rodriguez is one of our students from Alamo Colleges in San Antonio who works remotely on projects. She’s a pre-major in journalism and mass communications, and proud to be a Gen Z Latina.
Journalism intern Ian Wright is a senior at Hebron High School and an editor of his school newspaper, “The Hebron Hawk Eye.” His interest in journalism was sparked by his enthusiasm for writing and social advocacy. He enjoys reading, traveling to new places, listening to music and playing with his dogs.
Web content and analytics intern Ivania Flores is another Alamo Colleges student who works remotely to make sure we’re reaching as many readers as possible with quality content. She is a business professional and member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, as well as a military wife and mother of an autistic child.
Executive director Keri Mitchell spent 15 years dedicated to community and civic journalism at Dallas’ Advocate magazines, and launched Dallas Free Press in early 2020 with the belief that all neighborhoods deserve reporting and storytelling that values their community and holds leaders accountable.
Dallas Free Press is hiring!
We are honored and overjoyed to be among the 12 newsrooms nationwide chosen for Local Independent Online News (LION) Publishers‘ inaugural Revenue Growth Fellowship cohort. Their funding allows us to hire someone to focus solely on fundraising, and we’re seeking an adept communicator who is highly organized to build strong relationships with potential major donors, funders and corporate sponsors. The position will be supported by a 2-year fellowship with training and guidance provided by LION.
Read the development manager job description and apply here.
We’re so grateful for all of your support that has helped us grow this past year. If you have the means to give, please consider giving to nonprofit, nonpartisan journalism.
Thank you,
Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!
Keri Mitchell has spent 20+ years as a community journalist, including 15 years dedicated to community and civic journalism at Dallas’ Advocate magazines. She launched Dallas Free Press in early 2020 with the belief that all neighborhoods deserve reporting and storytelling that values their community and holds leaders accountable.
Mitchell says she is energized by “knowing our work is making an impact — listening to people, telling their stories with strong narratives paired with compelling data that leads to change. I also love spending time in our neighborhoods and with our neighbors, learning from them and working to determine how journalism can be part of the solution to their challenges.”
Mitchell is proud to be the winner of multiple awards during her journalism career including: Finalist in Magazine Feature Reporting (2018) and Finalist in Magazine Investigative Reporting (2017) from Hugh Aynesworth Excellence in Journalism, Best Feature Story (2011) from Texas Community Newspaper Association and Best Magazine Feature (2011) from Dallas Bar Association Philbin Awards.
Areas of Expertise:
local government, education, civic issues, investigative and enterprise reporting
Location Expertise:
Dallas, Texas
Official Title:
Founder + executive director
Email Address:
keri@dallasfreepress.com
