Steven Waldman

Steven Waldman is a prominent journalist and media executive, currently serving as the CEO and Founder of Rebuild Local News, a nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing local journalism and strengthening democracy. He co-founded Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms across the United States to cover underreported issues.

Career Highlights

• Rebuild Local News: Founded in January 2023, this organization focuses on creating policies that support a vibrant local press. It represents over 3,000 local newsrooms and advocates for diverse, community-oriented journalism.12
• Report for America: Waldman co-founded this initiative in August 2017, which has successfully placed hundreds of journalists in newsrooms to address local issues.24
• Journalism Background: He has extensive experience as a journalist, having worked for notable publications such as Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, and Washington Monthly. His early career included covering national politics and social issues.13

Notable Achievements

• Beliefnet: In 1998, Waldman founded Beliefnet.com, a multifaith website that became one of the largest in its category. He served as both CEO and Editor-in-Chief until its acquisition by News Corp in 2007.24
• Publications: Waldman authored significant reports for the Federal Communications Commission on the information needs of communities and has written several books, including "Founding Faith" and "The Bill" .24

Advocacy

Waldman is a vocal advocate for the importance of local news in fostering community engagement and democracy. He emphasizes that without robust local journalism, communities face increased polarization and misinformation.35