Matt Thompson

Matt Thompson is the Editor of Headway at The New York Times, a role he has held since March 2021. Headway is a journalistic initiative focused on investigating significant national and global challenges through the lens of progress, aiming to produce in-depth, data-rich projects that foster public engagement and understanding of complex issues.124

Professional Background

• Previous Roles:
  • Editor in Chief at Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting (2019-2021), where he led impactful investigative journalism projects, including investigations into labor practices and immigration issues.1
  • Executive Editor at The Atlantic, overseeing editorial initiatives and digital strategy.13
  • Director at the Center for Public Integrity, focusing on investigative journalism.3
  • Roles at NPR, including Deputy Editor and Director of Vertical Initiatives, where he contributed to the development of teams like Code Switch and NPR Ed.13

Education

Matt holds an AB from Harvard University, which he attended from 1998 to 2002.3

Current Focus

Under his leadership, Headway aims to tackle various economic, social, health, infrastructural, and environmental challenges. The initiative is supported by philanthropic funding and seeks to create a collaborative environment for journalists while maintaining editorial independence.12

Community Engagement

Thompson is also involved with various organizations, serving on the board of directors for The Texas Tribune and previously for the Center for Public Integrity. He is recognized for his ability to build teams that produce high-quality journalism across different media platforms.123