Shani O. Hilton

Shani O. Hilton is the Editor in Chief at Civic News Company, a nonprofit news organization that publishes outlets like Chalkbeat and Votebeat. She was appointed to this role on July 9, 2024, alongside Andrew Golis, who became the Chief Operating Officer.13

Professional Background

Hilton has an extensive background in journalism and media leadership:

• Los Angeles Times: She served as Managing Editor and Senior Vice President, where she led newsroom innovations and oversaw the LA Times Studio. Under her leadership, the paper won its first Academy Award for a short documentary in 2024.1
• BuzzFeed News: As Vice President of News and Programming, she built a 200-person newsroom that received multiple awards for its reporting.1

Vision and Goals

In her new position, Hilton aims to enhance community engagement through high-quality local news coverage. She expressed her enthusiasm for joining Civic News Company, stating that her experience in media has shown her the importance of community involvement and understanding civic issues.1

Personal Insights

Hilton has previously served on Civic News Company's board of directors, reflecting her long-standing commitment to the organization's mission of delivering impactful journalism.12