Longtime media executive, former LMA board chair has led organization’s Family and Independent Media Sustainability Lab, AI Community Journalism Lab
(December 16, 2025) — John M. Humenik, a respected media executive who leads two major innovation labs for Local Media Association/Local Media Foundation, has been promoted to Chief Strategy and Operations Officer for the organization.
Humenik joined LMA/LMF in 2024 to lead the AI Community Journalism Lab and then the Family and Independent Media Sustainability Lab. Prior to that, he was a respected industry consultant as founder of Pinwheel Insights, and former chief content officer, vice president for news, and group publisher at Lee Enterprises.
He also served as president and publisher of the Wisconsin State Journal (Madison); president of Madison Newspapers Inc.; president and publisher of the Arizona Daily Star (Tucson); editor of the Quad-City Times (Iowa/Illinois); founding publisher of On The River; founding editor of the Quad-City Business Journal; presentation and graphics editor of The Cincinnati Enquirer; and assistant managing editor of the Times of Northwest Indiana. He started his career as a sportswriter in Chicago.
Humenik served nine years on the board of directors of Local Media Association and its predecessor organization, Suburban Newspapers of America, including two terms as board chair.
“I’m passionate about local news, this incredible organization, and building strategies that create positive outcomes,” said Humenik. “This is an awesome role where you can help contribute to the success of others every day. I’m thrilled to be on the LMA team.”
In addition to his leadership of the FIMS and AI labs, in the new role Humenik will work with LMA/LMF co-CEOs Jay Small and Julia Campbell on overall strategy development, program implementation, and operational efficiencies for the organization. In particular, he will focus on accelerating development and rollouts of shared services for the industry, such as the fractional executive services launched as part of the Knight x LMA BloomLab earlier this year.
“John has been absolutely instrumental in making both the FIMS Lab and AI Community Journalism Lab such tremendous successes for the media companies we serve,” said Campbell. “His guidance has not only helped newsrooms navigate critical challenges, but he’s also been an invaluable mentor and collaborator to our entire LMA team. We’re thrilled to expand his role, so even more of our members can benefit from his wisdom, experience, and genuine passion for helping local journalism succeed.”
Humenik’s widely varied experience and skill sets made him an ideal candidate for the position, the co-CEOs agreed.
“My first experiences with John date back to the late 1980s and early 1990s, when we both worked in newsrooms in Indiana and were heavily involved in news design and pagination implementations,” said Small. “Then and now, he’s proven he can run the range from high-level strategic thinking and consulting to roll-up-your-sleeves, hands-on implementation. And he does it all with a smile and genuine desire to help local media and journalism be at their best.”
The addition of Humenik is part of a 5-year succession plan first announced in 2022.
“John was one of the best board chairs during my 25 years of running LMA,” said Nancy Lane, CEO Emeritus of LMA/LMF. “Now to have him join our team in this senior role, as part of our well-thought-out succession plan, is fantastic. He will provide high-level strategic and operational support to our terrific co-CEO’s, Jay Small and Julia Campbell. I couldn’t be more excited for this team and the future of LMA.”
About Local Media Association / Local Media Foundation
Local Media Association brings all media together to share, network, collaborate and more. More than 3,000 newspapers, TV stations, radio stations, digital news organizations, and research and development partners engage with LMA as members or constituents of our programs. As a 501(c)(6) trade association, LMA is focused on the business side of local media. LMA helps local media companies develop their strategies via cutting-edge programs, conferences, webinars, research and training.Local Media Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable trust, serves as the innovation and transformation affiliate of LMA. Incorporating our four strategic pillars — business transformation, journalism funded by philanthropy, industry collaboration, and sustainability for publishers of color — LMF helps provide local media companies the strategies and resources for meaningful innovation and impactful journalism projects.
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