WASHINGTON — The Online News Association announced today the appointment of Ebony Reed, Director of Innovation and Futures Lab at the Reynolds Journalism Institute, and Rodney Gibbs, Chief Product Officer for the Texas Tribune, as Board members.
ONA Board President Mandy Jenkins said: “I am delighted to welcome Ebony and Rodney to the Board. Their leadership experience and expertise in digital innovation will be instrumental to the future of ONA as a thriving journalism organization and key collaborator in the industry.”
Ebony brings a wealth of experience from both the editorial and business sides of journalism. She currently leads digital experts at RJI to partner with news organizations to create programs and tools for journalists. As an Associate Professor at the Missouri School of Journalism, she also teaches classes in media sales and management, and brings together journalism, engineering and business students to prototype solutions for problems in journalism. Ebony previously served on the boards of the Boston Children’s Museum, the New England First Amendment Coalition and the Columbia Missourian newspaper.
Rodney is an expert in product innovation and a recognized leader in the Austin, Texas, media community. He currently leads collaboration across editorial, engineering and design teams to develop and implement products that support the Texas Tribune’s journalism. Prior to joining the Tribune, he founded and sold two mobile app and game companies. Rodney has served on a number of boards, including the NPR and PBS affiliates in Austin, Texas, the Austin Film Society and the nonprofit Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Ebony and Rodney join Niketa Patel, News Partnership Manager, Twitter, and Rubina Madan Fillion, Director of Audience Engagement, The Intercept, as new Board members beginning their two-year terms on Jan. 1, 2019. Niketa and Rubina were elected by ONA members in the 2019 Board of Directors election.