Background and Experience

Marisa Porto is a journalism leader, educator, strategist, and speaker focused on the future of local media, democracy, innovation, and artificial intelligence. She serves as Knight Chair in Local News and Sustainability at the UNC-Chapel Hill Hussman School of Journalism and Media and director of the Center for Local Media.

Her work explores entrepreneurial journalism, technology, evolving news business models, leadership, and the future of local media. She works at the intersection of journalism, leadership, innovation, and democratic resilience.

A former newsroom leader and media executive, Porto previously served as publisher and editor in chief for Tribune Publishing and held leadership positions at Gannett. Throughout her career, she has focused on newsroom transformation, organizational culture, and leadership development.

Porto has also worked in nonprofit, startup, and higher education environments and has collaborated internationally with journalists and independent media organizations in Ukraine and Georgia on journalism innovation, press freedom, digital transformation, AI, and democratic resilience.

Through speaking, consulting, scholarship, and leadership initiatives, Porto contributes to conversations about how journalism can survive, adapt, and thrive in a rapidly changing media environment.