(CHICAGO)—Public Narrative, a nonprofit organization known for providing communications and media literacy resources teaching journalists and community nonprofits better storytelling, has named Olivia Obineme as the organization’s new Director of Journalism and Media Engagement.
“Olivia joins us at a pivotal time in our organization’s history. I’ve found her to be a trusted thought partner, ideator and executor and couldn’t be more thrilled to work with her in this capacity,” said President and Executive Director, Jhmira Alexander. “I’m confident that PN, its audiences and collaborators will be well served by her curiosity and understanding of journalism and its evolution.”
“I’m humbled to take on this newest opportunity to build on the extensive community media portfolio Public Narrative has built over the last 33 years,” said Obineme. “This is a public service dream come true that I don’t take lightly.”
Etched in Public Narrative’s foundation, Obineme will engage with media makers and community members throughout Chicago and beyond to build and guide authentic and effective partnerships, dialogue and initiatives. She will work to ensure journalists and community members work together to ensure more inclusive, diverse and equitable narratives are being told throughout Chicago and beyond, particularly in marginalized communities.
“When I first moved to the city in 2017, Public Narrative was one of the first Chicago-based resources a now-mentor of mine shared with me,” said Obineme. “From a plethora of media contacts to resources on how to be more community-centered in media, I give credit to PN for helping influence how I saw my role here in improving Chicago’s journalism landscape.”
“Public Narrative has built a lasting legacy in understanding the work we do as journalists and media makers cannot be complete without people, especially Black and Brown folks, who are most disproportionately impacted by the ongoing issues across our city, state and nation.”
Obineme is a proud Baltimore, MD native and a proud first-generation Nigerian-American. She is a graduate of Towson University where she studied mass communications with a focus on journalism and new media. She received her master’s degree in media innovation and entrepreneurship (now known as the “media innovation and content strategy” track) from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media & Integrated Marketing Communications.
Previously, Obineme served as the manager of partnerships and local content at the Better Government Association, where she worked at the intersection of journalism and civic engagement with community outreach for the nearly 100-year-old institution. She’s served in product management capacities for The Chicago Reporter and the NPR-affiliate KQED in California. Obineme has also served as a TV news producer for WBAL-TV. Her photojournalism and reporting work has been featured in South Side Weekly, The TRiiBE, Chicago Reader, Vox, The Guardian, The New York Times, Bloomberg and Mic.com to name a few.
She is a two-time Poynter Institute fellow and has been recognized for her contributions to various journalism projects including the Peter Lisagor Award and the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Editorial Award.
Interviews with Olivia Obineme may be arranged by contacting Public Narrative, at info@publicnarrative.org.