Sara Catania Email & Phone Number

New York, Ny, Us

New York, Ny, Us

Operating Officer title & duties added April 2023.Leads the strategy to accelerate rigorous reporting on promising responses to society’s most difficult problems and expand access to those stories, wherever people get their news. Leads on planning, strategizing and coordinating across SJN’s programming and services with an emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion. Responsible for cultivating cross-organizational relationships and connections, improving existing programming and services, soliciting feedback, analyzing effectiveness and planning and coordinating new programs.

New York, Ny, Us

New York, Ny, Us

Indianapolis, In, Us

I was elected to a one-year term as secretary/treasurer in Sept 2024 and was sworn in Oct 2024. In that role I ensure that SPJ is meeting its fiduciary responsibilities to the membership.I was appointed chair for the FAF committee in April 2024. In that role, I guide SPJ's work seeking, vetting and funding efforts across the US to preserve press freedom with a focus on projects that are likely to have long-term impact and increase public awareness, support and trust in an independent watchdog press.

I chair the chapter's Excellence in Journalism Awards committee, leading both nomination and selection. I also lead the ad hoc team behind the planning and fundraising for the popular SPJ/LA Mega Mixer.

Washington, District Of Columbia, Us

Supported women reporting on their communities in Uganda, Zimbabwe and Mexico by working with them to develop story ideas, editing their stories through multiple rounds of review and fact-checking, and coordinating publication of their work for this international news platform.

Los Angeles, Ca, Us

Taught news reporting and writing classes to graduate and undergraduate students in the core curriculum, including mentoring students and editing and publishing student work in collaboration with relevant news outlets.

St. Paul, Minnesota, Us

Chronicled the impact of a prototype mobile messaging and voice platform that connected directly with communities, helping journalists to build and scale direct, lasting two-way relationships.

Built, wrote, distributed and promoted this pop-up newsletter and Twitter feed focused on rebuilding trust in journalism. •Consulted with the Trust Project at Santa Clara University to design and focus newsletter content.•Researched and developed educational materials focused on Building Trust for betternews.org, a resource for news innovators from the American Press Institute.•Participated in workshop with the 32 Percent Project, a national community engagement project of the University of Oregon School of Journalism exploring what drives and disrupts trust in the news media.•Newsletter cited by Poynter and Muck Rack Daily and re-published by Local News Lab, a publication of the Democracy Fund.

Los Angeles, Ca, Us

Editorial Director, September 2016-May 2017Associate Editor, May 2016-August 2016Led the editorial team for this Los Angeles-based non-profit blending live events and journalism. Partnered with educational, cultural, and philanthropic institutions, as well as public agencies, to present free public events and conferences in cities across the U.S. and beyond, and publish original daily journalism syndicated to media outlets worldwide. •Oversaw a team of staffers and freelancers in creating, publishing and distributing journalism and opinion essays to nearly 300 syndicate partners including the Washington Post and Time.•Worked directly with dozens of academics and writers, editing their work for publication. •Worked with funders to ensure consistent support YOY.

London, Uk, Gb

Guided general news coverage from the Rockies to the Pacific for the largest news organization in the world. Highlights included running coverage of the Porter Ranch Gas blowout in Southern California, which forced a massive evacuation and took 112 days to plug, becoming the worst gas leak in US history; and the 41-day armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Harney County, Oregon, a precursor to the January 6, 2021 violent takeover of the US Capitol.

Rensselaerville, New York, Us

Worked on memoir about growing up on Chicago's South Side in the midst of one of the most sweeping "slum" clearance and urban renewal efforts of the 20th Century.

Universal City, California, Us

Led the team that developed and implemented a successful digital strategy across mobile, social and web at NBC4 Southern California, including audience engagement, data visualization, high-quality original video, photos and written content to create a compelling multi-screen storytelling experience. *Partnered with Investigative Team on "In Harm's Way," a series of reports exposing violations in ground transport safety rules that led to the shut-down several companies and won a 2013 IRE Award *Won first Sigma Delta Chi Award for NBCLA.com from The Society for Professional Journalists for Deadline Reporting online*Won first Murrow Regional Award for NBCLA.com for series on physical therapists and legal violations*Grew to No. 1 for unique visitors among local TV stations in market (comScore 2014)*Tenfold growth in Twitter followers*No.1 on Instagram among local TV stations in market *Enhanced mobile experience, including mobile web, and news and weather apps*Initiated livestreaming all newscasts as well as breaking news events *Hosted first digital news fellowship in partnership with Asian American Journalists Assn, which resulted in the hiring of the fellow as an on-camera multi-media journalist*Finalist for Shorty award for special Real-Time LA Riots Twitter account for Best Use of Social Media for News*Initiated and shepherded NBC/Telemundo/Comcast-sponsored annual Diversity Reception at Online News Assn conference*Identified as an "exceptional performer" by president and general manager*Promoted from Editorial Director, Digital News to VP, Digital News in December, 2013

Universal City, California, Us

El Segundo, California, Us

Conceived and wrote opinion pieces on a wide range of issues, including capital punishment, the economic crisis, public art and urban parks and more.

Los Angeles, Ca, Us

Taught intensive news reporting and writing classes to graduate and undergraduate students in the core curriculum, including mentoring students and publishing student work in collaboration with relevant news outlets.

New York, Ny, Us

As the point person in Southern California, helped bring AOL's fast-growing, high-profile Patch enterprise to the West Coast, launching, editing and managing dozens of hyperlocal sites.*Worked closely with regional and national leadership in shaping the vision and strategy for the operation, including revamping the CMS and initiating development of mobile apps.*Created and managed P&L for multi-million-dollar budget and 30-plus member team, executing full range of management responsibilities, including mentoring, editing and day-to-day staff oversight as well as hiring, evaluation and separation. *Led the company in exceeding unique visitor goals to individual sites and grew Facebook fans and Twitter followers across the sites tenfold in less than six months. *Created company-wide online management tools to help train and manage editors, reporters and freelancers, reducing staff workload and improving transparency and information flow.*Created and implemented editorial internship program, adopted company-wide. *Facilitated partnership with University of Southern California journalism program to publish student content. *Identified as "top one percent" of Patch management by editor in chief.

San Francisco, Us

Reported and wrote narrative-driven, long-form investigative features on race, immigration and criminal and social justice, including the memoir "A is for Afro."

Culver City, Ca, Us

Covered a range of news stories as well as wrote longer features and investigative stories on criminal justice, the death penalty, AIDS, politics and the environment. Wrote personal essays, author interviews and music, concert, book and restaurant reviews. Assisted in editing and proofreading the news section.

Woodland Hills, Ca, Us

As a general assignment reporter wrote breaking stories and lifestyle features. Profiled political figures including Tom Hayden, Henry Waxman and Jesse Jackson. Covered the O.J. Simpson verdict and other major events of the day.

El Segundo, California, Us

While at the Times, first as an intern, then as a reporter, wrote more than 1,000 deadline-driven stories. Covered the city of Simi Valley after the Rodney King verdict, as well as health and transportation in Ventura County. Edited news features, wrote a traffic column and contributed to the Pulitzer-Prize-winning coverage of the Northridge earthquake.

John S. Knight (Jsk) Journalism Fellow

M.J., Journalism

B.A., Philosophy

Business Administration And Management, General

Certified Non-Profit Accounting Professional -- Accounting Essentials