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Stephen Engelberg was the founding managing editor of ProPublica from 2008–2012, and became editor-in-chief on January 1, 2013. He came to ProPublica from The Oregonian in Portland, where he had been a managing editor since 2002. Before joining The Oregonian, Mr. Engelberg worked for The New York Times for 18 years, including stints in Washington, D.C., and Warsaw, Poland, as well as in New York. He served for 9 years on the Pulitzer Prize Board.
Mr. Engelberg’s work since 1996 has focused largely on the editing of investigative projects. He started the Times’s investigative unit in 2000. Projects he supervised at the Times on Mexican corruption (published in 1997) and the rise of Al Qaeda (published beginning in January 2001) were awarded the Pulitzer Prize. During his years at The Oregonian, the paper won the Pulitzer for breaking news and was a finalist for its investigative work on methamphetamines and charities intended to help the disabled. He is the co-author of “Germs: Biological Weapons and America’s Secret War” (2001).


Mike is a senior lecturer at the University of Illinois-Chicago and founder of JournalistsToolbox.ai, a free website featuring AI tools and training videos. He’s the author of two books: “Data + Journalism” (Routledge, 2023) and “Journalist’s Toolbox Handbook” (Routledge 2024).
The New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) and the 


Jim Falzone is the publisher of the seven newspapers that comprise North of Boston Media Group in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. In addition, he serves as vice president of production for parent company CNHI, LLC, and is president of the Northeast Association of Communication Executives. Before working at North of Boston Media Group, Falzone held editorial, ad production, and operations roles at Gannett newspapers in upstate New York.
John Harrison is a digital publishing industry professional with over 20 years of experience in product management, marketing, and sales. He is VP of Customer Experience at Wallit, providing publishers subscription management and web content paywall services to help capture revenue from digital and print products.
The sixth annual Student Press Freedom Day is Feb. 22. It is an opportunity for us all to recognize the increasingly critical role student journalists play in our communities, but also to support the student press through legislation, legal and educational resources, and mentorships.
Gary Lavariere is a forward-thinking leader who possesses a wealth of knowledge relative to data and digital strategies that drive success. He is currently the Chief Revenue Officer overseeing the business unit at New England Newspapers, Inc. (NENI). In his seven years as a media executive at NENI & the Las Vegas Review-Journal, he has quickly risen to a leadership role and is highly regarded in the industry.


Tim is the founder and CEO of 