Digital Innovator, Former News Executive Sue Cross to Lead INN

Encino, Calif., Sept. 21, 2015 - The Institute for Nonprofit News announced today the selection of veteran news executive and digital innovator Sue Cross as its new Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer.

Cross is a journalism business consultant who has helped launch and position new initiatives in digital media and worked with both commercial companies and nonprofits to generate new revenue and craft communication strategies.

Cross previously was a senior vice president at Associated Press and instrumental in introducing digital video to news sites across the U.S., expanding coverage of Latin America and Hispanics in the U.S. and developing news services for emerging media markets.

"We are delighted that Sue Cross has joined INN," said Brant Houston, chair of the INN board. “Her deep experience and knowledge in both innovation and management will take INN to the next stage of its evolution."

INN is Los Angeles-based as is Cross, whose appointment starts Sept. 21.

“Nonprofit news organizations in the INN network fill a growing need across the country for public-service investigative, community and specialized journalism," Cross said. “These are nimble, skilled newsrooms that have impact far above their numbers. It’s an honor to join INN and support them in producing quality news serving millions of readers, listeners and viewers.”

At AP, Cross led strategic partnerships and cooperative membership efforts in the Americas.  She won industry-wide support of collaborative ventures and expanded content distribution in emerging digital markets. She diversified revenue and improved margins on revenue responsibility of $380 million across six market and content product divisions while helping AP strengthen partnerships with more than 4,000 local media outlets. Earlier in her career she served as a reporter and editor and developed digital products and services.

The selection of Cross resulted from a national search by the INN's board of directors.

Begun in 2009, INN is a network of more than 100 nonprofit newsrooms in North America. INN fosters and promotes the creation of public service and investigative journalism and supports public service news organizations by providing business training, development and technology services to its members.

Cross replaces Kevin Davis, who left INN in April. Investigative data journalist Denise Malan, who has served as interim director, will stay with INN in a key role advancing data and technology programs. Malan has overseen improvements in INN’s systems and ushered in 12 new member organizations.

"The INN board would like to thank Denise for stepping into the interim directorship and ensuring INN continued to grow and thrive," Houston said.

About the Institute for Nonprofit News

The Institute for Nonprofit News (formerly the Investigative News Network) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization dedicated to advancing excellence and sustainability in the nonprofit investigative and public service sector. INN was founded in 2009 to help the increasing number of nonprofit newsrooms produce and distribute stories with impact, achieve cost efficiencies by pooling resources, and develop new revenue streams to become sustainable businesses. For more, visit www.INN.org or follow us on Twitter @INN.